I graduated from Nova High School
and The Performing Arts in 1975. I served in
the US Air Force as a military policeman.
Even though I did not pursue a career in the
performing arts, I changed my name legally to
Anthony Vincent in 1977 (I liked the name I
had used on the Performing Arts stage so much
that I kept it).
I was employed by Pan American World Airways
from 1978, and was literally the last flight
crew member on the last Pan Am 747 flight from
Miami to Los Angeles on December 4th 1991, the
day Pan Am went out of business. I continued
my airline career with Northwest Airlines until
my voluntary retirement in 1998.
Twenty years of coffee, tea and me was quite
enough!
I now raise miniature cattle and have a tree
nursery on our small family ranch in Southwest
Ranches, Broward County, Florida. I became involved
in animal rescues in 2004 and adopted a severely
injured K-9 from the Humane Society of Broward
County. Nikki (the dog) and I went on to become
the Poster Dog and the Poster Boy for the "Break
the Chain" campaign, educating the public
about the cruelties of chaining dogs. Nikki
and I visit schools, summer camps, Girl Scouts,
Boy Scouts, Brownies, city council meetings
and various other venues throughout Broward
County to spread the word about the cruelties
of chaining dogs. Our favorite educational venues
are for the physically challenged youth as well
as the underprivileged youth. The "Break
the Chain" campaign has assisted in changing
laws in 13 cities in Broward County so far,
now making it illegal to chain a dog for extended
periods of time. Nikki, my partner and I appear
on an episode of Animal Planet due to Nikki's
ordeal.
I am employed by the Broward Sheriff's Office
of Broward County as a certified crime scene
investigative aide and police mountain bike
patrol CSA in the Weston District. The Broward
Sheriff's Office allowed me to work in cooperation
with the humane society of Broward County so
all of the "Break the Chain" presentations
are uniformed events.
Since I am not an educator, my performing arts
back round comes in handy when I'm staring at
150 kids who all have questions!
I live by the following: Pay it Forward &
Live each day as if it were your last, because
in the end, it does not matter what you have
done with your life...what matters is what you
wanted to do, and didn't.
The best life's advice I ever received was
from a cowboy, he said:
"Sit tall in the saddle, hold your head
up high.
Keep your eyes fixed, where the trail meets
the sky.
Live like you ain't afraid to die.
Don't be scared, just enjoy your ride."
Applicable to life's journey.
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