My name is Tom Najjar and I am a friend of your father, your husband, your brother, and your son. I'm here today to speak on behalf of ALL of Mike's friends in Bay County We want you to know what we thought of Mike and how we feel. Our memories begin with a young man, enthusiastically, talking about getting elected to the city commission in Springfield. Who was this guy? Oh, he was going to win all right, there was no doubt about it. When he lost, did he get discouraged? Oh NO. Colleen, your brother simply began planning his next campaign. For mayor of Callaway, I think it was. Someday he would win an election, no doubt about it. You would think that all of his friends were Republicans, He was so conservative. Not true, he even had friends that were Democrats. Then came "THE" bus trip to Miami, FSU was playing Nebraska for the national championship. He was NEW to this group of Seminole fans, But not for very long, by the time we got to Bristol, He knew everyone on the bus And more importantly, they knew him, and yes, liked him. I'll never forget how mad everyone got when he and I both bought $50 Dollar National Championship posters, BEFORE the game. They said we had jinxed the team. They doubted ... not Mike He never doubted that we would win. Kevin, your brother and his friends, well We all loved the same football team, Florida State. Well, almost all, some of his friends liked Alabama and even Florida, Yes it's true, he even had Gator friends Cindy, Your husband was a big ham, and you know he had a big ego, but his heart was just as big, because he cared about people. He loved talking to people, That's why he was so good on radio & TV. His broadcast career began with Bay Talk Live radio show. Rush Limbaugh of Bay County. It did not last long, but those who heard the show knew, he was committed to involvement in the political process and we had not heard the last of this young man. Then came our Day Break TV show, what a joy. He had gotten a little more mature by this time, He had also gotten pretty good at doing the news, He just couldn't get the hang of doing the weather. Terry, your son didn't get paid for what he did on Day Break, Even though he told you he did. What he didn't say was why. We couldn't afford to pay what he was worth. He coined us the "3 Amigo's" and loved it most when He, David and I just sat there on the couch and talked. So did we. We didn't know him for very long, but it seemed like we knew him forever. We really were not close, but it seemed like we were best friends. We really didn't know each other very well, but is seemed as if we know everything about each other. Karen, Terry, your son wouldn't want us to be sad today, You know that, I don't need to be telling you, He would want us to celebrate life. He would be talking about the Presidential debates, The FSU Miami game, something exciting. He would have already started the WAKE. Cindy, we want you to know that even though he's not here, we still are. And his friends are now your friends. Ryan, we want you to know that your father touched our lives in a way that's hard to explain. Maybe, when you get older, you will be better able to understand, when I say we truly loved your dad. For all of us, We will miss our friend very much.

Mike's Poem