First City Bank Honors Dentist Langston with Ethics Scholarship

03/21/2005

Dr. James Langston, the longtime Fort Walton Beach dentist, had no idea it was happening, but he liked the results when chairman of the board John McGee revealed that First City Bank has funded the First City Bank/Dr. James Langston Ethics in Business Scholarship.

"You could have knocked me over with a feather," said Langston, the affable dentist and member of the First City Bank's board of directors. "I've never had a scholarship named for me, so this is a humbling experience."

McGee said the Langston has served on the bank's board continuously since 1968, but added that it is Langston's "concern for this community that always comes first" that made him the honoree for the bank's second Ethics in Business Scholarship at Okaloosa-Walton College.

"First City Bank is proud to continue our affiliation and support of Okaloosa-Walton College through the establishment of this scholarship in honor of Dr. Langston," said McGee, who funded the First City Bank Ethics in Business Scholarship a year ago and has made contributions to name three classrooms at the OWC Fort Walton Beach Campus.

"When I learned that the OWC Foundation had the special allocation for Ethics in Business matching funds, it was a great opportunity to recognize Dr. Langston for everything he's done over the years and support scholarships for students at the college. We like to think that giving opportunities like this one will not only give students some inspiration but also help in the growth of our community," said McGee.

Dr. Bob Richburg, president of OWC, said the college is again grateful to the bank for its support of student scholarship assistance. "It is particularly pleasing that First City Bank has chosen to honor Dr. Langston through this scholarship," said Richburg. "We thank John McGee and First City Bank for their continued financial assistance of O-W's scholarships and other programs."

Richburg noted the bank's prior support for the Howard McGee Classroom, named for the bank's late chairman, and the Jack Prince Classroom, as well as support for instructional programs at the college. OWC Foundation president Dale Rice Jr. said the college often must respond quickly once the availability of special matching funds is announced by the Florida Community Colleges Foundation that manages the grant. "These matching funds came about as a result of litigation and fines by the Department of Insurance several years ago that require the funds be spent on ethics education," Rice explained.

"Over the years the OWC Foundation has been able to partner these funds with donor gifts so that we now have six Ethics in Business Scholarships awarded each year," said Rice, noting the two separate Shavey Family Ethics Scholarships, the Destin Rotary Club Ethics in Business Scholarship, the 100% Realty Ethics in Business Scholarship and the two by First City Bank.