Mr. Godby, originally from Kentucky, came to Florida in 1930 where he began his coaching career in Carrabelle.
Mr. Amos Parker Godby was consumed with one great concern, and that was that the children of Florida should have an opportunity to receive a decent public education. In his thirty-five years of service to the Florida educational system, he served as a teacher, coach, Chairman of Legislative committees, County Superintendent, and President and Secretary of the Florida Superintendents Association. He traveled to all parts of the state working with school personnel and citizens in an effort to improve education.
Mr. Godby became superintendant on January 5, 1945.
Highlights include: the building of all Leon County schools except Lively Technical, Sealey Elementary, Lincoln High, Fort Braden, Chaires, Woodville, Miccosukee and Leon; the $5 million bond issue; the raising of Leon County taxpayer's house assessments to appropriate more money for schools; the accreditation of all Leon County public schools; the construction of Raa and Elizabeth Cobb Jr. Highs and James Rickards Jr.-Sr. High; the development of the one room school house into a consolidated school with more qualified personnel.
Through his efforts many new ideas and programs were developed: i.e., driver's education classes, summer school programs, the use of educational television and others. Mr. Godby launched an extensive building program. He expected full value for every dollar spent.
Mr. Amos P. Godby helped to bring quality and excellence to education in Florida, and we are truly proud to have our school named after such a great man.