Carter honored with wildflower plot

The following news release is from Florida Depatment of Transportation

There has never been a more passionate man about life than Ralph C. Carter, former Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Three (D-3) employee. Mr. Carter had a wide variety of interests that included everything from politics, to cows, to turf management, to pecans, to family. Ralph’s life was a full and interesting one that was cut short last year at the young age of seventy five. Ralph represented the Chipley area in the state legislature in the 1960’s and was also a contractor and farmer. But most recently, Ralph served as the turf specialist for D-3.

Carter loved the Florida Panhandle area and worked hard to improve the lifestyle here. As a legislator he was instrumental in the development of the Washington-Holmes Vocational Technical Center (WHTC) in Chipley and also helped establish Falling Waters as a State Park. For his efforts, the adminstration building at the WHTC was named the Ralph C. Carter Adminstration Building and a section of State Park Road adjacent to the park is designated as Ralph C. Carter Parkway in his honor.

While working in turf management in the FDOT Maintenance district office, a subject that always excited Ralph was the FDOT Wildflower program. He spent many hours helping to choose wildflower plot sites and selecting the types of wildflower seeds best suited for each area. He loved working with the Maintenance field crews and they loved working with him. For his efforts, D-3 has received numerous awards over the years dealing with wildflowers.

Recently D-3 was contacted by members of the Chipley Garden Club concerning the idea of memorializing Ralph with a wildflower plot dedicated to his memory. This plot was planted by Marianna Maintenance personnel in December and is located on SR 77 just south of the intersection of State Park Road. The plot also abuts the property of the Carter home place. Flowers planted in the plot include Blackeyed Susans, Gaillardia aristata, scarlet flax, phlox and cosmos coreopsis.

A dedication ceremony was held on April 22 with FDOT employees, Garden Club members and Carter family members in attendance. Signs were erected in Ralph’s honor. Ralph C. Carter would have been proud.