Charlie Dean earned the accolades

Happy Monday! 

Here’s a dumb question to start the week: Is it better to do the work, or have people THINK you’re doing the work?

I pondered that Saturday afternoon after hundreds gathered for Sheriff Charlie Dean’s funeral service at the College of Central Florida.

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Not just CF. It was held in a building named after him.

The accolades for Charlie were off the charts, as they should be. He grew up in Inverness. His father was Sheriff, and he was a truant officer in the school district. Then, politics: Sheriff himself for 16 years, followed by years in the Legislature.

More than any of that, though, he was just Charlie Dean. That name said it all. He held a stature that’s rare in this day, one of reverence, and not fear. People respected Charlie because of the good he did. We heard many examples on Saturday.

Whenever I’m in such a gathering, I often think of something a 12-step speaker said one time. “I don’t want to be a nice guy,” he said. “I just want a REPUTATION for being a nice guy.”

He was referring to his earlier life, but we all nodded because we knew exactly what he was talking about.

Give me the public applause, but don’t make me earn it.

We all know people like that, right? The ones who take credit while others are doing the labor. Fortunately, that’s a rare bird in our county.

Nobody’s perfect. We don’t let our humanity get in the way of service.

I looked around the room Saturday at a whole bunch of perfectly flawed community leaders. Some, I hadn’t seen in years. One, I met for a Cattle Dog chat the day before. They all are connected with the same bond: Citrus County.

I wasn’t sure what to write about Charlie’s service. I thought about one of those “A valued piece of our history is gone” blogs, but it didn’t feel right. Especially after hearing Friday about the death of Alida Langley, another community pillar.

Charlie and Alida were both from the same era. Half the county considered Charlie and Alida neighbors, and the other half hardly knew them at all. That’s our transition county. The folks we’re losing are from a time that many Citrus Countians never experienced and have no perspective.

Sadly, the Charlie Deans of our community are fading. With 170,000 residents, very few individuals stand tall as Charlie did. Politicians are more into politics than during Charlie’s days, so it’s difficult to find people who truly stay on principle. Citizens are far fickler and demanding. 

That doesn’t mean we can’t do our best. 

I had a thought on Saturday. Other than my family, who’s showing up at my funeral? (By the way, you’re all invited.) My time in this speck of the universe should be a community builder, not a tear-downer. I want those (few) who attend to say, “You know, Mike did his best. We didn’t always agree, but he meant well. He loved his community and its people.”

The folks in that room Saturday weren’t mourning a what-if. Sheriff Charlie Dean was the real deal. I could see it in their eyes. This man will live in their hearts forever.

Times are weird, no doubt about it. A lot of anxiety out there. We look to folks who stand behind their word. Solid individuals. The ones who show up eager to help.

Reputations are meaningless unless they’re earned.

Charlie Dean earned his. Alida Langley earned hers. Two community stalwarts who proved their well-earned reputations time and time again. We were so fortunate. Boy, they will be missed.

That’s it for Monday. Enjoy the week, friends.

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