My public service began at a young age when my father, James R. Packard, was in the United States Air Force.
We were living in Bellevue, Nebraska (a suburb of Omaha), when he was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base (Strategic Air Command headquarters).
I attended Fort Crook School for sixth grade. My home room teacher, Mrs. Gwen Carson, invited me to join the school’s Safety Patrol. I joined and was assigned the rank of Lieutenant.
At the end of the school year, several of us were awarded a gold Safety Patrol badge for our service to our fellow students.
In 2005, the Auburn University chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha – the honor society for public affairs and public administration – awarded me “The Charles J. Spindler Outstanding Achievement Award” for my work in election administration in Alabama.
The award is given in honor of a professor in the political science department at Auburn, Dr. Charles Spindler. Dr. Spindler was also on staff at Auburn’s Center for Governmental Services.
Dr. Spindler was one of my professors while I worked on a Master of Public Administration at Auburn. He was also a colleague when I, too, worked at the Center for Governmental Services.
Dr. Spindler was found accidentally drowned in a swimming pool at Auburn in 2000.
In September of 2012, State Representative Howard Sanderford (Madison County) issued a certificate commending me for my work with the members of the various county Boards of Registrars.
Then, the next month, the members of the Association of Alabama Boards of Registrars expressed their appreciation for my service to them.
Ed Packard for Secretary of State 