Like many Pelican Snowbirds Sandi and I made the same mistake our first few years of keeping to ourselves - walking the beach, enjoying the views and eating at local restaurants.  Not a bad way to spend a winter.

But eventually (despite repeatedly saying that I had no earthly interest in ever playing shuffleboard) Bob Brossart (shuffleboard king at the time) grabbed me by the scruff of my neck, shoved a cue in my hand and said “Ve haf vays of makink you shuffle!”  

So much for a relaxed, incognito winter.

The next year when we returned all we saw were familiar faces.  But there was one in particular.  A young man (this was quite some time ago) with a default expression of friendliness and leading a bulldog, approached me, took my hand, and said; “Welcome Home”.  

Archie was right on both counts.  I felt welcome.  And I felt like I was home.

In the years since I have grown more and more to appreciate everything about this place.  But more than anything it is the sense of inclusiveness.  This isn’t a place for cliques.  It is a place where everyone is welcome from their first visit.  Archie and Alecia helped set that tone.

I have grown in my appreciation for both Archie and Alecia over the years and recently sat down with each of them to learn a bit more of their journey to the Pelican.

Archie is very close to being one of those rare creatures among  our generation - a native Floridian.  He was born in South Carolina but attended school in Winter Park from 2nd grade through high school where he was three time all-state running back.  (Sorry Archie, this one didn’t make it through fact check).

He started college in Florida but graduated from Emory University in Atlanta.  Here he completed his education and interest in medicine, for which we can all be grateful (more on that later).

Alecia, on the other hand, was a Nashville Cat by birth but moved to Atlanta as an infant, eventually graduating from Georgia Baptist as a nurse.

She and Archie ended up working at the same hospital where, by their own descriptions, this “skinny little dude” met his “Georgia Peach”.  In 1980 they were married.

It is worth a moment to take a closer look at Archie’s career.

While attending college he worked in hospitals as part of his clinical training.  Upon graduation he took a job with a pharmaceuticals firm.  He quickly progressed up the ladder, eventually becoming national manager, which required a move to Long Island.

During this time he established relationships with a myriad of doctors (particularly radiologists).  He knew that to satisfy their needs he needed to clearly understand what those needs were.  

This was all happening in the mid to late 90s, which was a special time where multiple fields (including medicine, pharmaceuticals and computers) were converging to allow us to do the detailed, non-intrusive scanning that we see today.  Things like virtual colonoscopies (an area that Archie was involved in). During this time Archie became VP of Clinical Affairs and Medical Community Liaison.

If one does a search for “Computed tomography enterography” (I know, we’ve all looked that up now and again) you will find that it was first introduced by “Raptopoulos et al. in 1997”.  Archie was an important part of the team referenced by that “et al.”  

Specifically, he helped with the development of “neutral oral contrast”  that helped highlight abnormalities which might be related to such things as Crohn’s disease.  Without these contrasts the disease might go undiagnosed or more intrusive procedures would be required.  Not only was Archie a key player, he holds a patent related to this neutral oral contrast that works in both CT and MR.

Of course, during this time the Williams’ had started a family and Alecia became a full time Mom to Alexander (father to their recently arrived first grandchild), Andrew and Archie IV.

After 30 years and the passing of his mentor, Howard Stern (no - not THAT Howard Stern), it was time to “retire” (he still participates in zoom calls and conferences).  

Now it was time for their return to Florida.

They had visited the Pelican and told their realtor that if a unit opened up they wanted to buy it.  Well, they didn’t just buy a unit, they bought the 6th floor B Building Point.  For my money that unit is the “Pelican Penthouse”.  And the way they have decorated only underscores that assessment.   What I find interesting about this purchase, however, is that they didn’t ask for that specific unit.  It wasn't until they showed up for closing that they had any idea what particular unit they were buying.  

They purchased B606 in 2004 and have been here full time since 2010.

But none of the above is what motivated me to write this article.  That was triggered by Archie’s role as President of the Pelican Condo Association from 2008 to 2020.  To assume this role for any Condo Association is a challenge.  To do it for a 144 unit building, owned by folks from all over the country (many of whom are non-resident owners), with different backgrounds and different economic circumstances and goals, raises a myriad of challenges.  Owners range from retired full time occupants, to Winter only residents and part time renters, to those who are primarily investors.  No thank you.

And yet Archie managed to make a significant imprint that we can all appreciate.

The parking lot, while functional, was a concrete wasteland.  Now when you pull your vehicle onto the property, with its palm trees and other landscaping, you experience your first indication that you are someplace special.

Those beautiful poolside palm trees that make the Pelican the envy of the NSB coastline were installed under his tenure as well.

Today the grill area may feature a solo cook grilling an evening meal.  Or it may be crowded with revelers celebrating Burgers and Jam.  It might even be a group of old farts grilling oysters.  A decade ago that area was empty grass as well.  

The picnic tables and pool chairs over by the South entrance to the pool - so often crowded with towels, sun worshippers, or at different times of the day folks looking for shade - also a grassy area.  Both of these spaces have been converted to attractive and much used spaces.

But most impressive was the construction of the Pel House.

Many of you will not remember the small, two story home that preceded our current building.  It was the former residence of the property manager and had been converted as a multiple purpose facility.  We managed to have activities there, but it was a struggle .  

I remember the first time I had the task of organizing our annual golf scramble.  We managed to squeeze in, but I recall standing in the small living room, stuffed with golfers, shouting so I could be heard by still more folks in the tiny kitchen.  

I also remember the night we finished playing euchre and were turning off the lights only to hear shouting from the upstairs bedroom, reminding us that we had forgotten that one of our tables was still playing.

There are many things that make this complex attractive to an active winter guest.  The oceanside shuffleboard courts, the centrally located pools, coffee and donuts, birthday cakes.  It could be German chocolate cake.  Or red velvet with cream cheese icing.  Then there is the white cake with raspberry filling.  Oh, and that Carrot Cake!!!

I’m sorry - where was I?

Oh yes, the Pel House!

The Pel House has made it easy to host golf banquets, Super Bowl parties, 10 table euchre nights (oh yes we did) and Valentines Dinners that seated over 60.  No other condo on the beach has anything like it.

I would give him a perfect scorecard if he had only delivered on his promise of a rooftop tiki bar.

Archie no longer wields the gavel, but he and Alecia still keep quite busy.  

Archie has always had an interest in fast cars and fast women (Alecia has been clocked at 9.8 in the hundred).  He is currently working on a 1961 Corvette.  He is restoring it to its original color scheme of white body with red trim - a rarity in 1961.  

He also used to ride motorcycles.

Alecia’s email address of “carwidow” almost proved prophetic In 2012.  He was on his way to Daytona to pick up a helmet (his current helmet didn’t color coordinate) for his brand new (250 miles on the ODO) Harley Springer .   As best as events can be reconstructed a car veered into his lane and he chose the best of three options by steering into an open field.  We aren’t really sure because he has no memory of the incident.

The bike survived without a scratch.  Archie - not so much.  He spent 5 weeks in the hospital, 3 of those in a medically induced coma.  For a considerable time afterward he struggled with muddled thinking and an inability to concentrate (we can all relate).

He is back in full swing now, still working and conferencing when called upon, restoring his car, or occasionally joining the Morning Manatees for a heavy workout in the pool.

But enough about Archie.

Alecia has been indispensable to the snowbird community as well.   While chair of the owners social committee she was always there to help us with new ideas and activities (like a fire pit).  And while no longer formally in that position, she is responsive to our needs before we even ask.  And it is Alecia who takes the lead in organizing the Year End Party every season.  

They are both active in the local community as well.  Alecia is particularly involved with the Yacht Club, where she has served as past President (and managed to arrange more than one outing that included Pelican Snowbirds).

If someone were to ask me to rank those who have contributed to the Pelican community in order of their value - I would flat out refuse.

There are so many and they have all contributed in different and unique ways.  But with the years that have passed since Archie was leader of the board, and the number of new snowbirds who are now part of our community, I felt that a tribute to both Archie and Alecia, and a review of a bit of Pelican History, were in order.

A sincere and heartfelt thank you to both of you for all you have done.