Rev. Mark Christopher

Dear Sir:

It is, indeed, a genuine honor to offer this testimonial in behalf of Gil Alba who will be recognized as "Investigator of the Year" later this year.

I feel like a dim voice from his distant past recalling my impressions of a young man about to ride out the rite of passage from adolescence to adulthood... But acorns drop and grow near the grand trees into which they will eventually grow... those who have loved them and those who taught them. I sincerely believe, with the usual few exceptions, that living with a person for four years, twenty-four  hours a day, ten months a year does impart a better understanding and truer picture of what to expect from a boy growing into his manhood.

St. Francis was and still is a private Catholic high school which at one time admitted resident students primarily from the northeast United States. During Gil’s four year sojourn, I, a Catholic priest, taught him in the classroom and, more importantly, supervised him as his guardian in all his after school activities. In effect, I was mother and father to him which gave me thorough insight as to who Gil was and was hoping to be.

Honesty, perseverance, tolerance and sensitivity, the vital traits that bind every investigator worthy of his vocation must be acquired early in life if the investigator is to measure up to the standards of his calling. Later enhanced by his academy training and college rigors, together with the moral values instilled in his home and school, Gil's qualifications are now recognized and stamped as outstanding, exemplary and worthy of emulation by other budding investigators and officers.

Mindful of his humble beginnings, grateful for the family inspirations, aware of the diligence he will always need to help those who knock on his door, Gil Alba's success comes as no surprise. He was a fine boy. He is a finer man. Would that his profession abound with people as honest, compassionate, just and understanding. We need more Gil Albas in the world today

Rev. Mark Christopher,
Sanford, Florida