Fort Walton Beach High School will honor Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and his father, John “Billy” Uthmeier, during a halftime ceremony at Friday night’s football game against South Walton High School.
- The Uthmeiers will also serve as the game’s Honorary Captains.
The ceremony will recognize Billy Uthmeier for leading the effort to build the Vikings’ on-campus baseball field in 2004 and James Uthmeier for his career in law and public service.
Before Billy Uthmeier took on the project, Viking baseball teams spent 35 years traveling two miles off campus to play their home games at Jet Stadium. Construction of the baseball field came on a similar timeline as the school’s football stadium, spearheaded by Steve Riggs.
“Having the baseball field on campus is really special for our program,” Athletic Director Holly McDaniel said. “Jet Stadium will always be part of our history, but there’s something different about getting to play right here at your own school and caring for your own facility. We also are proud of the continuous work, upgrades and time our coaching staff dedicates to keep it one of the best baseball fields in Northwest Florida.”
- “For more than 20 years now, we’ve had so many Viking baseball players come through and play on this field and call it their home, and we do not take it for granted,” McDaniel said.
James Uthmeier, who grew up in Destin, played on the Viking baseball team and served as Captain of the cross country team during his time at Fort Walton Beach High School. He went on to attend the University of Florida, where he ran varsity track and cross country for the national champion Gators, and later graduated from Georgetown Law.
Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Uthmeier as Florida’s Attorney General in February 2025. Before that, he served as DeSantis’ Chief of Staff, overseeing 20 state agencies and more than 100,000 employees. He also served as the Governor’s General Counsel. Earlier in his career, Uthmeier was a Senior Advisor and Counsel to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and a litigation associate at Jones Day in Washington, D.C. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
“It’s a privilege to welcome James Uthmeier back to Fort Walton Beach High School,” Chambers said. “He grew up in our community, played baseball and ran cross country here, and now serves our state as Florida’s Attorney General. We’re proud to see what he has accomplished, and we know the students, staff, and community who helped shape him are proud as well.”
The school is encouraging all Fort Walton Beach High School alumni who attended school with Uthmeier to come to the game Friday night and visit with their former classmate. Members of the current cross country and baseball teams will be at the stadium to show Billy Uthmeier how the field he helped build has matured and been improved over the years.
“There is something special about being able to honor one of our own,” McDaniel said. “To recognize someone who once walked in these halls, wore a Viking uniform, and competed for Fort Walton Beach makes it really meaningful for our school.”
McDaniel said the ceremony also carries a message for the school’s current athletes and students.
“He is a great example of the countless Viking graduates who have gone on to do amazing things in our communities and across the world,” she said. “It’s a great reminder to our current students that they are now part of that tradition and have the opportunity to continue building on it. Being a Viking doesn’t end when you graduate. Once a Viking, always a Viking.”
Game kicks off at 7pm
