His post-career mentoring of the Florida Ranger Camp students, staff and families was well-received and continued until his passing. Adding to these time-consuming efforts was his support. In word and deed of the numerous College ROTC programs from Tallahassee to Pensacola, which included Leadership Scholarships and Recognitions. One of his recent efforts has been the organization and funding of the Veterans Service Centers on Florida College campuses. In 2014, General Ferguson was honored for his extensive work “Creating Veteran-Friendly Campus Strategies for Transitioning Veterans for Success”, as a Veterans Resource Center Donor.

Education and Training Accomplishments:

• Grade School at St. John’s Academy Boarding School, St. Augustine, Florida High School Diploma, Pensacola Florida, 1956
• Military Academy at West Point, 1960
• Masters International Relations, American University, 1967
• National War College and Masters from Central Michigan University, 1977 
• University of Florida Law School, 1986
• Florida Bar, 1989
• District of Columbia Bar, 1990
• University of West Florida Honorary Alumnus, 2012
• Trustee Emeritus University of Florida Law Center until passing in 2020
• University of West Florida Honorary Doctorate Of Humane letters, 2014

Professional History:

• Commissioned from the Military Academy at West Point, 1960
• Infantry Officer Basic, Winter Ranger, Ranger School, Airborne Training Duty Assignment 2d Armored Rifle Battalion as Platoon Leader, Erlangen, Germany
• Platoon Tactics Instructor Fort Benning, Georgia, 1964
• Masters Program in International Relations from American University, 1967 
• Duty Assignment I Corps, 1st ARVN Infantry Division, 1968
• Naval War College Command and Staff School, 1970
• Assignment as Infantry Branch Chief Military Personal Center, 1977 
• Assignment as Commander, 3d Brigade Korean DMZ with 3 Battalions Assignment Assistant Director Of Operations National Command Center Assignment Cuban Refugee Operation at Fort Chaffee, AR and Fort Polk, LA Promotion to Brigadier General at age 44, as Director Material/ Plans, DC 1983 
• Retirement from the United States Army 1986
• Member of the Florida Bar from 1989 until his passing in 2020

Advocacy on Behalf of Veterans:

First:
Of the many remarkable achievements of one of Florida’s own sons, Mike Ferguson, and his continuing support of Veterans, three come quickly into focus that I witnessed first hand. Having been apprised of an Army family of five residing in the Eglin AFB Fisher House with very unique needs, he swept into action. The Army EOD father of the family was still undergoing recovery from severe combat injury from an IED that left him totally blind. From Walter Reed Hospital and numerous Fisher House residencies over a two-year period, the family lived with few possessions. While Fisher House could attend to many needs, a special need was well within the general’s expertise in supporting soldiers. The family had received an invitation to the White House, and the Veteran had lost track of any appropriate uniform. Mike Ferguson, having been apprised of the need, not only arranged for a new set of Army Dress Blues from the 7th Special Forces Clothing Store, but also arranged for full tailoring, new shoes and all stripes, awards and decorations. While SSG Hale has never seen this gift from the General or known of his generosity, he still wears this uniform with pride.

Second:
Of the many accomplishments that Mike Ferguson can be credited with in his post- military career, several are worth noting. In his continued support of soldiers, the relocation of the Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) from Fort Bragg to Eglin Air Force Base could fill more than the allotted pages. His post-career mentoring of the Florida Ranger Camp students, staff and families was well-received and continued until his passing. Adding to these time- consuming efforts was his support in word and deed of the numerous College ROTC programs from Tallahassee to Pensacola, which included Leadership Scholarships and Recognitions. One of his recent efforts has been the organization and funding of the Veterans Service Centers on Florida college campuses. In 2014, General Ferguson was honored for his extensive work “Creating Veteran-Friendly Campus Strategies for Transitioning Veterans for Success”, as a Veterans Resource Center Donor.

Third:
Having been born in 1938 as a 6th generation native of Pensacola, and experiencing the loss of his 29 year-old father, PFC Lloyd G. Ferguson, in the woods surrounding Cologne shortly after the Battle of the Bulge, one can only imagine Mike Ferguson embracing the Emerald Coast WWII Honor Flight concept, “Honoring the Greatest Generation.” Throwing himself and his legal resources quickly into the many details involved in Board organization, corporate and 501 c3 status filing, liability issue acumen, and decades of military leadership, he was key in the success of nine flights with over 900 WWII

Veterans departing Northwest Florida airports and safely returning. These nine chartered flights with WWII Veterans who ranged in age from 85 to over 100 never deterred Mike’s enthusiasm or advocacy. With fifty volunteer Guardians and associated Medical Staff on each flight. Mike Ferguson was never shy in the financial support or potentially billable hours he and his firm donated to this worthy endeavor. He never actually said it, but I’m sure as he looked at each group on the manifest he would think of his dad and his final resting place in Belgium.

Civic Activities and Contributions

• Appointment 2003 as Civilian Aide to the Secretary Of the Army for Northern Florida
• Recognition as CASA Emeritus 2019 until his passing in 2020
• Honored by UF Law School as the *’ Warrior Lawyer” as an advocate for Veterans 2014
• Honorary Member of the 350th Civil Affairs Command
• Association of the U.S. Army “Brenda M. Dougherty AUSA Lifetime Of Service” Award
• WEAR-TV, Ch 3, Pensacola “Angel in our Midst” Award Recognition Salvation Army Advisory Board
• Pensacola WWII, Korean War, Vietnam and POW-MIA War Memorial Board Old Christ Church Restoration Committee
• Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow Award In 2005 and 2010
• Order of Saint Maurice by the National Infantry Association
• Adjunct Professor at the University Of West Florida College Of Business National Museum Of Naval Aviation Advisory Board
• Donor Autism Society, Council On Aging, and Heart Association Society

Awards and Honors:

30 plus awards, decorations, and badges including:

• Distinguished Service Medal
• Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster 
• Bronze Star with V device and three Oak Leaf Clusters
• Purple Heart
• Meritorious Service Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters
• Air Medal
• Army Commendation with Oak Leaf Cluster
• National Defense Service Medal with Star
• The Army Service Ribbon
• The Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral three
• Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device
• Republic of Vietnam Cross Of Gallantry with 3 silver stars and 1 gold star Vietnamese National Honor Medal First Class
• Vietnamese Fourragere
• Presidential Unit Citation
• Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Awards
• CIB, EIB, Parachutists Badge
• Ranger Tab
• Department of the Army General Staff Badge
• Paul Harris Rotary Fellow 2005 and 2010
• Pensacola Chamber Of Commerce “Pioneer Award” 2018

A summary of Mr. Ferguson’s Civic Activities and Contributions include:

• Appointment 2003 as Civilian Aide to the Secretary Of the Army for Northern Florida 
• Recognition as CASA Emeritus 2019 until his passing in 2020 
• Honored by UF Law School as the “Warrior Lawyer” as an advocate for Veterans 2014 
• Honorary Member of the 350th Civil Affairs Command 
• Association of the U.S. Army “Brenda M. Dougherty AUSA Lifetime of Service” Award 
• WEAR-TV, Ch 3, Pensacola “Angel in our Midst” Award Recognition 
• Salvation Army Advisory Board 
• Pensacola WWII, Korean War, Vietnam and POW-MIA War Memorial Board 
• Old Christ Church Restoration Committee 
• Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow Award in 2005 and 201 O 
• Order of Saint Maurice by the National Infantry Association 
• Adjunct Professor at the University Of West Florida College Of Business 
• National Museum of Naval Aviation Advisory Board 
• Donor Autism Society, Council on Aging, and Heart Association Society

This is by far the most difficult section of this good man’s nomination for the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame for this old NCO to complete; however I will endeavor do justice to the life work of this great Floridian. I proudly served as the General’s “on call” Volunteer NCO. We became close friends during the Emerald Coast Honor Flights and found we shared the simple motives of supporting soldiers and our fellow man. This friendship grew as he helped with the establishment and opening of the Fisher House Hospital Support facility on Eglin AFB. His vast planning experience had predicted increased needs for this facility at both the Ranger School and the soon-to-arrive 7th Special Forces Group. He would be correct, and was thanked for his foresight as families filled the rooms of the Fisher House.

I have previously detailed Mike’s efforts benefitting one special Fisher House resident and combat-blinded EOD Soldier as an example of his personal impact and generosity. Trying to keep up with a Retired General who was always on a fast-paced run was always exciting. My duties as his First Sergeant increased as his step slowed, and it was always an honor to act as his stand-in to present his Leadership Awards and Scholarships. It has only been a few months since we gathered at the First Baptist Church in Pensacola for Mike Ferguson’s final formation and roll call— loving family, law partners, former members of Congress, sports personalities, business leaders, numerous uniformed military members, civic leaders, and high school classmates. We could envision Mike’s smiling face at the irony of having his send-off held in the church located next door to the site of the high school he attended some six decades before.

In the Awards and Honors section preceding this narrative, I have listed the Pensacola Chamber Of Commerce “Pioneer Award” given to Mike in 2018. This was to be the last of his highly deserved recognitions of Service. This last Award was established in 1978 and is presented to an individual who has made significant contributions, provided leadership with lasting impact, and demon­ strated a lifetime commitment to progress. Brigadier General Michael Lambert Ferguson has not only met that standard, but has raised the bar for us all.