A View from the Top - Searching the Heart

Gordon Cherr, December 16, 2021

This man killed my friend.

He chose to drive on Springhill Road in this county one fine evening at nearly 90 mph if not faster, for reasons he will not share, crossed the centerline in an out of control skid, and struck Paul who was standing on the opposite shoulder of the road, waiting for him to pass. Standing in a pedestrian crosswalk no less. I’ll spare you the witness details, but Paul, taking an early evening run in the Apalachicola National Forest, was dead before he landed back on the pavement. I visited the scene soon thereafter, and there was an eyewitness. I have litigated over a thousand auto accident cases over 25 years, it was not difficult to see what had happened.

There are no excuses.

It gets worse from there. He didn’t stop but left Paul, another human being, laying dead in the roadway like so much roadkill. He ran away. He torched the car, he hid out for a year or more until captured.

There are no excuses.

I knew Paul Hoover since the early 1980s. We were friends, competitors, sometimes running buddies. He was fast back in the day, I never beat him at any distance. But he was always self effacing and dodged the limelight. He was supportive of others too, and I suppose all of this is why the many kids he coached at Wakulla High School so loved and admired him. He had a funny way of running too. He was the quintessential shuffler. Around here it was called “Hoovering” and everyone in this extended running family knew what was meant and who it meant, and it truly was a sign of respect.

Paul was a sworn law enforcement officer who worked as a wildlife officer. It was sometimes dangerous work. Sometime after he retired, he showed up wearing a deputy’s uniform, in my courtroom in the Wakulla County Courthouse. After chatting he asked if he could serve as my bailiff. Of course. Things can get mighty testy in court, especially in Family Law, but he had a way of diffusing the most difficult situations with a word or two. Not a bully but very capable of handling most any situation that came up. And I appreciated that he had my back. At all times.

I miss my friend.

I don’t have compassionate release for Mr. Strickland in me. I am sorry. I can’t speak for you. I imagine that few do. But the ironic thing is that I am sure that if you asked Paul, he would have compassionate release in his heart for the man who killed him and left him there and ran away.

Paul, you were a better man than I and many of us.

I miss my friend.

https://www.wctv.tv/2021/12/15/man-who-killed-wakulla-track-coach-hit-run-seeking-compassionate-release/?fbclid=IwAR0AZxQj7hNbA6OfU7vuTNmlITx1ehJL2tNQAHgiY5ioeMMhPQnJR01N02w

FEATURES

Remembering Jimmy Joanos

​James Joanos 1934 - 2024 Judge James Joanos’ wisdom abounded more than in the courtroom. He shared his running adventures and insights with his fellow runners during training runs, after races, and in “On the Roads, Again!," his monthly column in The FleetFoot, Gulf...

2023 Annual Awards Recipients – Presentations

Female Triathlete of the Year - Presented to Beverly Harrell by Kory SkrobOur Female Triathlete of the Year epitomizes the love of competition, camaraderie, and service to both Gulf Winds Track Club and Gulf Winds Triathletes. In the realm of athleticism, our...

Run to Poseys 2023

The annual Run to Posey’s will take place on Christmas Eve! As most of you know, this tradition has been around for more years than most of us can count and has continued long past the demise of Posey’s Oyster Bar back in 2005 when Hurricane Dennis rolled through. Now...

Holiday Party December 16

Holiday Party - Mark Your Calendars When - Saturday, December 16, 2023 Where - Shiloh Farm, 1500 Benjamin Chaires Rd, Tallahassee Time - 6-10 p.m. What's Included Olive Garden catered meal and desserts Beverages Santa Claus! Bon Fire Photo Booth Balloon and Sketch...

Grand Prix 2024

Each year the Grand Prix Committee designates a schedule of races to be Grand Prix events in which GWTC members can earn points. The point system is as follows: Open points - Awarded only to Overall (non-Youth) finishers.  Points are awarded to GWTC members in order...

IRC Running Program Gearing Up

​Danny Manausa has been diligently working to launch our third running program for IRC children.  The plan is to start on Tuesday October 17 and run the program weekly until the week prior to Thanksgiving.  Meetup times will be at 6PM at Cascades Park. If you are able...

Sports Performance and Preventative Care

You are cordially invited to attend a presentation by Dr. Brian Burnett entitled "Sports Performance and Preventative Care for Runners." Dr. Burnett is a local chiropractic physician and the owner of Tallahassee Primary Spine Care. He is a former FSU athlete who threw...