Scott Speaks, a Eustis High grad and Army NCO, endorses COVID vaccines dailycommercial.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailycommercial.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
His 1971 Eustis Panther classmates could well understand – predict, even – that their special buddy, whose talent and passion intersected perfectly, would tell the Daily Commercial in a 2018 interview that he had been able to live my life doing what I love to do.
That meant his being at water s shore, atop the water, in the water and under the water. A certified diver at 16, Jim knew the science, the adventure and the stunningly beautiful views of marine life in motion.
And his always-deployed Navy shipmates, once treated by Jim to a feast of personally hand-caught lobsters while Spadefish was berthed in Puerto Rico, could attest to the extra skills he brought to the fight – such as donning wet suit, fins and mask to clean the sub s propellers!
He turned 18 the same week he qualified with the M16A1 Rifle at Parris Island; then he skipped a rank by becoming class honor grad at Navy electrician school in Millington, Tenn.
Now 44, former Marine Sgt. Eric Sword of Leesburg has been feeding his appetite for learning ever since – with no visible signs of slowing down. He parlayed his G.I. Bill education benefits into a bachelor of arts degree in information technology, followed by a masters in cyber security.
The married father of three makes his family the priority, so the hunting and fishing he loves is less frequent these days. But as an in-demand Lake County business owner (Eric Sword Heating and Cooling), the Leatherneck s time management skills are off the charts. Plus he carves out space for flying lessons (and expects to be awarded his private pilot s license within the next month or so).