The Polk Community College students graduating on Dec. 14, 6:30 p.m. will hear from two successful individuals who got their start at PCC. State Senator John McKay, President of the Florida Senate and a Winter Haven native, will be the graduation guest speaker. Judge J. David Langford, Judge of the 10th Judicial Circuit, will be presented with PCC's Distinguished Alumnus Award. He graduated from the college in 1970.
PCC's 85th Commencement will be held in the Health Center Gym on the Winter Haven campus. Approximately 285 students will be eligible to march in graduation. (NOTE: Exact numbers will not be known until next week when finals are posted.)
State Senator John McKay is a sixth generation
Floridian, born in Winter Haven in 1948. His family has a hist
ory
of public service. His great uncle, B. McKay, was Mayor of Tampa
for 16 years in the early 1900s. His grandfather, Mitchell F.
McKay, was Deputy Clerk of Circuit Court in the 1920s.
Senator McKay graduated from Winter Haven High School in 1966. He attended PCC during the late 60's and also took courses at Florida State University. He graduated from FSU in 1971. Senator McKay is in the commercial real estate business. John McKay was first elected State Senator in 1990. He represents District 26, which includes Manatee, Hardee, DeSoto, Highlands and Sarasota Counties.
During Senator McKay's tenure in the Florida Senate, he has served as Chairman of diverse committees such as the Committee on Rules and Calendar, the Committee on Commerce and Economic Opportunities, the Committee on Health and Rehabilitative Services, and the Select Committee on Litigation Reform.
Judge J. David Langford will be the 38th recipient
of PCC's Distinguished 
Alumnus
Award. The award recognizes alumni who have achieved professional
success and made an outstanding contribution to the community.
Judge Langford is administrative judge for Hardee County and
hears felony, juvenile, probate, guardianship and mental health
cases. He graduated from PCC in 1970 with an Associate in Arts
degree. Langford went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts from University
of Florida in 1972 and his law degree from UF's law School in
1975.
"PCC provided me with a good education," said Judge Langford. " It was a great foundation. It helped teach me college life, about discipline and being a self starter. It provided a good transition when I transferred to Gainesville."
Once he graduated from UF, Judge Langford served as Assistant State Attorney from 1975 to 1978 in Sebring and then a nine-year stint in law practice and served as attorney for Avon Park, the District Board of Trustees of South Florida Community College and Sun Bank of Highlands County.
Langford was elected County Judge of Highlands County in 1986 and has served as a judge in various capacities ever since. He served as Judge of Civil Division of Polk County, the Felony Division of Polk County and the Juvenile Division of Polk County, among others.
Judge Langford is a member of South Florida Community College's Foundation, a member of Avon Park Rotary Club and deacon of First Baptist Church of Avon Park.
He and wife, Anna, live in Avon Park. He has three children.