What is your hometown, what brought you
to the Pensacola area, and how long have
you been here?
My hometown is Roanoke, Virginia. I went to East
Tennessee State University where I met my husband.
I wanted to go to law school and my husband was
going to be a dentist. His father talked him out of it
and we moved to Pensacola because his father had
just purchased Astro Lincoln Mercury and needed
help from him. I fell in love with this town and the
wonderful people I met when I started teaching school
in 1971.
What is your profession and give a brief
description of what you do.
I only taught two years and then stayed home for
8 to raise my two boys. In 1980 I went back to Tate
where I started a law studies program. Taking students
to visit the jail and the prison in Century was an eye
opener for us all. The Principal, Jim May, told me I
needed to be the Dean and I was not sure I wanted to
but he convinced me and I loved it. The students were
really so very good it made the job easy. I retired in
2014 and wish I hadn’t.
What led you to choose this profession?
Ralph Godwin was the Principal and a friend of my
father in law. He was trying to hire teachers and he
asked me if I was interested. I said I would try it and
it was amazing to me how I was able to help some of
these young people and how they inspired me. I was
addicted to teaching.
What do you like best about Pensacola?
What makes it so unique?
Pensacola is a big town with the heart of a small
village. There are so many great people that reach out
to others and work hard to make things wonderful for
everyone. There is always fabulous local entertainment
(ex: White Tie, Children’s Chorus, Blue Wahoo’s and
on and on) plus great restaurants and fabulous parades
and balls. It is unique because where else do you have
so many Krewes helping charities and putting on
great parades for the entire town. The smiles on the
children’s faces when you throw them stuffed animals
at Christmas are amazing.
Three words that best describe you.
Caring, grateful, and a little crazy.
Favorite Things you like about Pensacola.
Shows at Saenger Theatre such as White Tie &
Broadway Shows, great restaurants, beautiful beaches,
warm weather (most of the time), and fabulous people.
I AM PENSACOLA because…
I am Pensacola because of the love and compassion
shown by so many people here. Through good times
and bad times there is always a huge part of this town
that have each other’s back.
I AM PENSACOLA
Esther
Culbertson
photo by Zhalman Harris
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