Remembering a Friend: Retired Admiral and Port Canaveral Commissioner Wayne Justice (1955-2025)
By Steve Wilson // November 11, 2025
The Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson talks about his friendship with Wayne Justice
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – This past Saturday, I received some heartbreaking news. A friend had died.
Wayne Justice, only two years younger than I, had so much life left in him. The life he lived was remarkable. Much of it is in the history books. I won’t go into detail because if you knew Wayne, you knew his background.
The Wayne I knew was not the one who carried the nuclear codes for President Clinton and President Bush. He was the Wayne who answered the bell every time I called. I first met him when I worked for the City of Rockledge. One of my areas of responsibility was coordinating city events.
I contacted Wayne one day and asked him to speak at one of our events. It took him no time to say yes. Over the years, I took advantage of his generosity. He spoke at multiple city events and was always a hit with the crowd.
Our friendship grew over the years. Sometimes I would forget he was a retired Coast Guard Rear Admiral, a Port Commissioner, and a staunch supporter of the Veterans, etc. In a public setting, I would call him Admiral or Commissioner. In private, he was just Wayne.
That did not mean that I didn’t respect him for his accomplishments and what he stood for; he was just such a down-to-earth guy that, to me, he was just Wayne.
I have so many fond memories of Wayne. For years, I would always end our conversations with, “Tell Barbara and Baxter I said hi!” Barbara is his wife, and Baxter was his favorite dog.
Over the past year, I would see Wayne quite often at the Cocoa Beach Health and Wellness Club. I enjoyed our brief conversations in between workouts. He was never too busy to chat. When I went to the gym, I would always look to see if he was there.
I vividly recall our last conversation just a few short weeks ago. I was at the gym working out, and I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around, and it was Wayne.
We talked about lobster fishing, which he loved, how we were feeling, etc., just an everyday conversation. It never occurred to me that it would be the last time I would see or talk to my friend.
Wayne Justice was a blessing to Brevard County. He was a friend to many. And I, for one, consider myself fortunate to call him my friend, one that I will never forget.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.
Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey, Florida House District 32 Constituent of the Week 4/20/25.
Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.
He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 26 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.
