Bruce Witt wasn't content just teaching students at Florida Gateway College. He was intent on attracting new ones to the school in Lake City, Florida, as well.Witt, who was an instructor in the school's golf course operations and landscape technology department for nearly three decades, died Nov. 17 after a brief battle with cancer. He was 63.
"Alumni responses have been steadily coming; they are obviously saddened," said John Piersol, executive director of the school's industrial and agricultural programs.
"He was a dedicated, caring instructor who developed a strong alumni following which is true for the entire golf/landscape team over the years."
Jonathan Morris, who from 2007-13 trained would-be golf course equipment managers at the school formerly known as Lake City Community College, remembered Witt as someone dedicated to both students and academic institution.
"Bruce was the facility adviser for the student chapters of the GCSAA and Florida Turfgrass Association for many years, chaperoned students to both of their annual conferences, and cheered many students on through the Turf Bowl," Morris said via email. "He pushed the students for excellence and was always available after hours if any student needed some extra help."
A graduate of Penn State University, Witt taught at Lake City and later Florida Gateway for 27 years.
Ken Mangum, CGCS at the Atlanta Athletic Club graduated from LCCC before Witt's tenure there began, but got to know him in the years since, and says his contributions will be greatly missed by past, present and future Florida Gateway students.
"He was a big part of the success of the program and helped many young men become successful golf course superintendents," Mangum said. "His influence will be felt for many years to come in the lives of the students he taught and mentored."
Stephen Tucker, founder of the International Golf Course Equipment Managers Association, also is an alum and a current member of the school's advisory committee. As such, he still interacted with Witt several times each year.
"He was a great person who really cared about his students and the college," Tucker said. "He spent many days traveling around trying to recruit students for the program and also coming up with ideas on how we could reach the younger generation. I have been fortunate enough to meet a lot of people so far in my career and the people you meet that stand out are those that you can see have passion for what they do and I felt Bruce's passion was Lake City Community College and helping his alumni succeed. I think that was the great thing about attending Lake City was that those instructors made us feel like family, something I think is much harder to do at big colleges. Bruce was a great person, great ambassador of the college and a great friend to many of us and he will be greatly missed."