A Salute to "Mr. FEHA:" Billy G. Tennant, R.S.
The following article was written by the late Paul R. Fell, R.S., FEHA Past President and was published in the March 1997 issue of the Florida Journal of Environmental Health. FEHA's top award is named after Billy G. Tennant.
In honor of FEHA's 50th Anniversary, it is only fitting and proper that we recognize the one individual that has been the guiding force behind FEHA for all of it's 50 years: our own Executive Director, Bill Tennant. I've attempted to consolidate Bill's long and distinguished career in environmental health, which was no easy task! And we have asked Bill some questions to give our members a glimpse of the life and times of a consummate Sanitarian-the man I call Mr. FEHA.
Bill was born in Flomaton, Alabama, just north of Pensacola, on August 15, 1918, where he attended local schools. He was the Finance Officer for 5 counties in northwest Florida from 1941-42 when he enlisted in the Navy as a First Class Petty Officer in World War II from 1942-45. Returning home, he was hired as a Junior Sanitarian on February 1, 1946 with the Escambia County Health Department. In 1947, he attended the State Board of Health's In-Service Training School at the University of Florida and was the highest ranking member of his class.
The Founding of the Florida Association of Sanitarians
On October 22, 1947, Bill was among the approximately 100 Sanitarians and Sanitation Officers who attended a special Sanitation Section meeting, in response to a letter mailed out to all Sanitarians and Sanitary Officers in Florida. It was held at the Hillsboro Roof Garden Hotel in Tampa where the Florida Public Health Association was having their Annual Conference. This important meeting was called by a delegation of Dade County Sanitarians, Joe J. Pokay, Sanitarian I, Mr. Louis Westbrook, Sanitarian I, and Harvey Jordan to discuss their proposition to forma state wide association of Sanitarians. The original idea to form such an association came from the mind of Mr. V.M. Bryant, Shellfish Sanitarian with the Bureau of Sanitary Engineering, Florida State Board of Health in Jacksonville. Their proposition was enthusiastically endorsed by the attendees and thus the seed for the Florida Association of Sanitarians (FAS) was firmly planted. On October 23, 1947, the first officers were elected and Bill Tennant District Chairman of West Florida. The National Association of Sanitarians granted the FAS their charter at their national conference in Portland Oregon on July 7-9, 1948.
But back to Bill! In 1948, he became Escambia County's Director of Sanitation (Sanitarian III). During his first four years, Bill conducted a Typhus Control Program and due to his aggressive Rodent Control Program, he took Escambia County from one of the highest number of typhus cases in the Southeast United States to one of the lowest. His duties also included food inspections and mosquito control activities. In 1951, Bill was elected Treasurer of FAS and in 1953, became Vice President. Also that year, Bill found his forte writing legislative bills and getting them through the Florida Legislature. They included: 1)Devising an innovative financing of the new Escambia County Health Department (ECHD), including a fully equipped Food Handler's Training Kitchen!; 2) Proposing a law requiring all food handlers pass a 6 hour training course, of which over 15,000 were trained in nearly 25 years!; 3)Writing Florida Statute 553, Florida's first State Plumbing Code, placing its enforcement under the County Health Departments (known to us old-timers as 10D-9, Florida Administrative Code); 4) Creating a bill giving Escambia County Health Department plumbing inspection authority on a fee supported basis; 5)Establishing the Escambia County Health Department by Legislative Act and giving it authority in all matters of public health; 6) Drafting garbage and mosquito control laws; and that's just the highlights!
The Florida Sanitarians Registration Act
The idea to seek passage of a Sanitarians Registration Law during the next Legislative Session (1951) was decided on October 5, 1950 by the FAS Board of Directors at their meeting at the Soreno Hotel in St. Petersburg. In 1954, Bill, as Chairman of the FAS Legislative Committee, began working on passage of the Florida Sanitarians Registration Act with Dr. Wilson T. Sowder, Florida's State Health Officer; he was asked by FAS, as an ex-officio member of the Legislative Committee, to write the first draft. In 1955, it passed the Senate, but it was killed in the House. State Representative Mallory Horne of Escambia County was an enthusiastic advocate of the Sanitarians Registration Act. One powerful opponent of the Act was the Florida Engineering Society. With the Legislature only meeting once every 2 years, it was re-introduced in 1957 where it passed both Houses but was vetoed by Governor Collins. 1959 was the pivotal year for the Act. Bill, as FAS Legislative Chairman, made so many trips to Tallahassee and talked to so many Legislators that he was required to register as a Lobbyist! Bill appeared before both House and Senate Committees to lobby for the Act. But, unlike lobbyists today, Bill paid all of his own expenses and used his own personal time to assure it's passage. It again passed the Legislature, and this time, Governor Collins allowed it to become law; this made Florida the 17th state to have a Registration Act. It is safe to say that without Bill's dogged determination and dedication to the passage of this Act, it would not have become law. Bill's efforts were recognized by Governor Collins when he appointed Bill as the first Chairman of the Registered Sanitarians Board. Bill continued to serve on the Board being continuously re-appointed by five Governors over the next 20 years until its abolishment by the Legislature in 1979.
Now, back to 1954! In that year, Bill became President of FAS for the 1954-55 year. Over the years, his tenure on the Board, as an officer or Board member was longer than any other Sanitarian. In May, 1955, with the help of Mr. J.A. Mulrennan, President of the Florida Public Health Association, Bill was the first Sanitarian to obtain a Governor's Proclamation of Sanitarian's Week in Florida. Proclaimed by Governor Leroy Collins, it is tradition that every Governor since has observed (now we call it Environmental Health Week). Bill also served as a Board member on the National Association of Sanitarians. In 1955, the International Association of Milk and Food Sanitarians recognized his 9 years of phenomenal accomplishments in Environmental Health and his ability to personalize the ideals of a Sanitarian by naming him "Outstanding Sanitarian of the United States." This award came with a check for $1000 and a Citation for Service to Food Sanitation. In 1958, FAS President Stanley Taylor appointed Bill to serve on a committee for the establishment of a Division of Sanitation in the Florida State Board of Health. He surveyed many other states to determine their method of operation and appeared on a panel with Graham Mckeown (FAS' first President) to discuss the pros and cons relative to the establishment of this division. The success of this commitment was indicated when the State Board of Health approved the establishment of the Division of Sanitation in the Local Health Services Bureau. In the opinion of many Health Officers and Sanitarians, this was a tremendous step forward in improving the status of the Sanitarian and the services to the people of this state. In recognition of all of Bill's accomplishments for FAS over the years, he was awarded the "Outstanding Sanitarian Award" for the 1958-59 year. Also, in 1959, the National Association of Sanitarians held their national conference in Miami-an event not seen again until the NEHA conference in Orlando, 1993.
In 1961, the Chairman of the Sanitarians Directors Conference appointed Bill as Chairman of the Training and Coding Committee. He rewrote the entire coding activities used by Sanitarians in the state, appearing before the Health Officers Coding Committee and securing its adoption. Known as "P-2,"it was in use for over 15 years. In 1963, Bill was elected Chairman of the Sanitarians Directors Conference in Florida. In the 1960's, and 70's, Bill continued his service on the Registration Board and as EH Director for ECHD, serving on many local boards and organizations, while continuing to write ordinances and Legislative Acts for Escambia County. In 1970, Bill was elected President of the Florida Public Health Association, being the first President ever elected from northwest Florida since 1929. In 1971, Governor Askew appointed Bill to a four year term on the Florida Health Planning Council where he was Chairman of the EH Committee. In 1972, FPHA presented Bill their Meritorious Service Award in recognition of "the 26 years of meritorious service he has unselfishly given to Escambia County, the State of Florida, his Environmental Health profession, and his community. His service has been of such caliber as to signal the attention of the press, government officials at all levels and his co-workers." Bill retired from the ECHD in 1981, after 35 years of service to the state and the citizens of Escambia County. Did he quietly slip into retirement for a little rest and relaxation that he so justly deserved? No!! He volunteered his services again to the Association he loved and helped to establish, as FEHA's second Executive Director in 1980-a position he has diligently held (with Virginia Linnvell, our FEHA Secretary) to this very day, nearly 17 years.
As Bill approaches 79 years of age (he certainly doesn't look it, or act it!), he can look back with immense pride in all of his accomplishments in the field of Environmental Health, for the Florida Environmental Health Association he founded and more awards and recognition that have been lauded upon him than most men of his age. In addition, he has been married to his lovely wife Evelyn for 59 years as of June 2, 1997 and they have three children, Glenn, Cynthia, and Susan. Bill has also found the time to be a Mason, Shriner, and member of his local Methodist Church in Pensacola. He also enjoys hunting and fishing.
The Florida Environmental Health Association and all of its members over these 50 years and for years to come, owe a debt of sincere gratitude to Bill for his 50 years of continuous service to FEHA, our profession, the people of the State of Florida and especially the recognition and respect he has brought this organization. It is for all these reasons and many more that we salute you, Bill Tennant. We are all so very proud of you and the outstanding professional example of selfless service you have given all environmental health professionals to model themselves after...To us, you will always be Mr. FEHA!!