August 26, 2021
Tallahassee Community College is announcing a new scholarship for students entering the law enforcement field through their Florida Public Safety Institute Campus, The Willis D. and Frances H. Booth Integrity in Law Enforcement Scholarship.
Willis DeJoinville Booth served in WWII in the Marine Corps in the Pacific theatre and returned from the War to his home to make a life-long career in law enforcement. He progressed through the ranks at the Clearwater Police Department to become Chief of Police from 1957-1968. After retirement from the City, he moved his family to Tallahassee in 1968 to serve with the newly established Bureau of Law Enforcement (currently FDLE) where he started as Special Agent, director of criminal investigations, and director of mutual aid helping establish police standards.
He retired again in 1984 from the State to take up leadership at the Florida Police Chiefs Association. Of the many contributions he made, Willis counted mentoring generations of law enforcement officers as most gratifying. In 2016, Willis was selected as an inductee into the inaugural class of the Law Enforcement Hall of Fame. Frances H. Booth was involved in every aspect of church fellowship and service by teaching Sunday school, Vacation Bible School and planning and preparing for social outreach activities for the congregation. Music was a great joy to her, and she insured that all her children were involved in some form of musical training. Frances and Willis were married for 71 years.
This $25,000 scholarship was funded through the generous support of the family of Chief and Mrs. Willis D. Booth, native Floridians, who provided lifetime support and leadership towards effective policing in the state of Florida. The income from this endowment will be used to provide scholarships for full-time students enrolled in the law enforcement program at TCC’s Florida Public Safety Institute.
For more information, contact Heather Mitchell, Executive Director, TCC Foundation at heather.mitchell@tcc.fl.edu.