- April 19, 2024
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Dr. Jim Guines demonstrated he can still captivate a crowd at the fundraising dinner in his honor on Sunday, Nov. 22. Photo Jacque Estes
Dr. Jim Guines speaks at the appreciation dinner in his honor at FPC on Sunday, Nov. 22. Photo Jacque Estes
Flagler Palm Coast High School cafeteria was filled to capacity for the appreciation dinner for Jim Guines on Sunday. Nov. 22. Photo Jacque Estes
Dr. Jim Guines, his wife LaVerne, and daughter Kim Guines Blowe. Photo Jacque Estes
Dr. Jim Guines, his wife LaVerne, and daughter Kim Guines Blowe. Photo Jacque Estes
2015 FPC graduate, Kristopher McCall, talked about the difference Guines has made in his life. Photo Jacque Estes
Debra Naughton and her son, Michael, greet Dr. Guines at the appreciation dinner on Sunday, Nov. 22. Photo Jacque Estes
On Sunday, Nov. 22, the Flagler Palm Coast High School cafeteria was filled with people who had spent much of their youth at the school with the person they were honoring, Dr. Jim Guines.
“It is fitting to have a barbecue for Dr. Guines, and to have it here,” school superintendent Jacob Oliva said.
Nearly every person in the room had been impacted by Guines, either as students, members of Rotary, Habitat for Humanity, or the African American Mentoring Program.
“I would definitely not be where I am in my life without Dr. Guines.” Kristopher McCall, 2015 FPC graduate
School board member Trevor Tucker was a high school student when Guines was on the school board, and a familiar face on campus, with and without his barbecue. Smokin’ Jim, as he was known, was always cooking for special events and for the teachers.
“He was the first person I ever knew, who was on a school board,” Tucker said. “Now I am in the Rotary with him.”
Kristopher McCall, a 2015 graduate of FPC, took the stage to thank Guines for taking an interest in him, including him in the mentoring program, and for the scholarship he was currently using for his first semester at Daytona State College.
“I would definitely not be where I am in my life without Dr. Guines,” McCall said.
Speaking directly to Guines he promised; “I am going to continue to make you proud.”
Guines was recognized by Chuck Warren, a founder of Habitat for Humanity in Flagler County, who spoke about how he presented the idea of bringing Habitat for Humanity to the county in 1992, and how Guines was immediately on board.
“We are currently breaking ground for our 95th home in Flagler and in 2016 we will break ground for our 100th home,” Warren said. “That one will be the Jim Guines home. A lot of people don’t know, but Jim took every child in a Habitat home and personally taught them computer skills.”
A video featured people who could not attend the afternoon event, including Bill Delbrugge, former Flagler superintendent, who is now in Egypt, and Nellie Ling, a special student whom the Guineses have remained in touch with. Ling was a 1994 FPC graduate, valedictorian and member of the Interact Club.
As the event was coming to an end, Tucker announced that $3,500 had been raised that afternoon for the scholarship program.
