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Son says Father of the Year 'teaches by example'

Photo from Barbara Routen

Reese Ecklund, 10, submitted the winning essay about his father, Marshall, in the Community Roundtable’s annual father of the year contest. He is shown with his sister, Peyton, 7.

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By BARBARA ROUTEN

Tribune correspondent

Published: July 1, 2009

BRANDON - Ten-year-old Reese Ecklund of Lithia, a fifth-grader at Bevis Elementary School, wrote the winning essay about his dad, Army Lt. Col. Marshall Ecklund, in the annual What I Learned from My Dad Father of the Year contest sponsored by the Community Roundtable.

"My father is a soldier... and my den leader," began Reese's tribute. "Virtues like respect, fairness, courage, patience, honesty and responsibility all describe him. My father teaches by example, and that is why he is 'Father of the Year!'"

Ecklund was away on temporary duty when the call came saying he was picked father of the year. "I was shocked and humbled by it," he said.

Reese writes well, said his father. He is an honor-roll student who earned the highest-possible score, a 6, on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in writing.

"I get most of my skills from my dad," said Reese, who added that the contest's 50-word limit wasn't enough to include everything he has learned from his dad. Reese's mom, Tisha, agreed that staying within the word count was a challenge for Reese.

Ecklund deflected the compliment back to his wife, who helps with their children's homework whenever Uncle Sam calls him away. The couple have two other children, Peyton, 7, and Braden, 3.

The second-place essay was written by Laurielys Cheeseman, an 11-year-old, fifth-grade student at FishHawk Creek Elementary School, who saw her father, physician George R. Cheeseman, III, help a gas station clerk who was having a heart attack.

"He was like a Gardian sic Angel to her. When I saw him doing that he felt like my hero," she said.

When Janine Nickerson, vice president of the Community Roundtable, presented Cheeseman a copy of his daughter's essay, he told her that he had forgotten about this incident.

"You never know what your children are learning just from watching you," Nickerson said.

Third place went to Christopher Carofano, 10, a fourth grader at Valrico Elementary, for his essay about his "new" dad, Archie "Buddy" Parsley, II.

"I know my dad in heaven Mark Carofano looks down at us and smiles, knowing my dad Buddy loves and cares for us very much," he wrote.

The winners received framed copies of their essays and gift certificates from area businesses including Buckhorn Springs Golf and Country Club, Huth and Booth - The Portrait Gallery, Buca di Beppo, Brandon Crossroads Bowl, Beef 'O Brady's on Kings Avenue, Cheddar's Casual Cafe, Sweet Tomatoes and the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce.

In addition, Reese and his dad will ride in style in the Community Roundtable's Brandon Fourth of July parade.

The Community Roundtable was formerly known as the Presidents' Roundtable of Greater Brandon,

Correspondent Barbara Routen can be reached at neighbors@tampabay.rr.com or (813) 627-4751.

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