Russ Sabella, Ph.D.

Professor, Florida Gulf Coast University

ASCA Past President (2003-2004). FSCA Past President (2013-2014), Received the FSCA Robert D. Myrick Lifetime Achievement Award (2015)

I want to share a few words about someone truly special in my life, my dear friend, mentor, and colleague, Dr. Bob Myrick. Bob was a prolific contributor to our school counseling profession, deeply devoted to his family, and someone whose kindness and bright spirit touched everyone who knew him.

I met Bob in 1987 when I began the school counseling graduate program at the University of Florida. From the very start, his warmth, kindness, patience, and genuine care for students stood out. He was an exceptional teacher who was deeply invested not only in preparing strong school counselors, but also in supporting our growth as human beings. What set Bob apart was not just what he knew, but how he shared it. He was generous with his time, genuinely curious about others’ ideas, and unfailingly respectful. Whether you were a graduate student, a new school counselor, or a seasoned professional, Bob listened. He encouraged. He made you feel that your work mattered and that YOU mattered.

In 1990, Bob became my doctoral chair, a trusted mentor, and a steady source of encouragement during a very full season of my life as I worked as a middle school counselor, completed my doctorate, and learned how to be a new parent. He was always an outstanding listener, attentive, supportive, and fully present. Over the years, we became collaborators and friends, authoring articles and books together, helping to launch the Florida Peer Helper Association, and sharing a deep passion for empowering kids through approaches that were both effective and efficient. We also geeked out over emerging technology in the early days of email, the World Wide Web, and beyond. For 38 years, Bob was a steady, positive, and indelible influence in my life, shaping who I am both personally and professionally in ways I continue to appreciate every day.

I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of an exceptionally large and special group of school counselors, counselor educators, and leaders who got to work with Bob and benefited from his mentorship and friendship. He was a foundational figure in the development of modern school counseling, there from the beginning and helping to shape the profession as we know it today. His impact continues to ripple outward through generations of school counselors and counselor educators, improving the lives of countless students, families, and communities. I will always be grateful for Bob’s influence, his humanity, and his friendship.

For those who may not know the full scope of Bob’s professional impact, here’s a sample:

Liz Villares, Ph.D.

Professor, Florida Atlantic University

FSCA Past Chair, Board of Directors (2018-2019); Awarded FSCA School Counselor Advocate: School, Community, and Family Advocate (2025-2026)

Robert D. Myrick, my mentor, professor, and the person who inspired me to become a counselor educator.

Dr. Myrick had the rare gift of seeing the magic in others long before they recognized it in themselves. An eternal optimist, he believed deeply in people, in possibility, and in the importance of family. He had a way of making the extraordinary feel attainable. He guided me as a doctoral student as I developed an intervention and tested its effectiveness with a randomized control study. He helped me view this as a norm and treating it as “just another study,” when in reality it represents the gold standard of our field.

We shared a love of technology and Survivor, but more importantly, we shared a belief in growth, courage, and purpose. He inspired me to leave the classroom, my hometown, and begin a new chapter as a school counselor. These steps ultimately shaped the path I walk today. His influence continues to inform my teaching practice, leadership, and the way I mentor others.

I am deeply grateful for his presence in my life and for how his wisdom, encouragement, and belief in me continue to shape my work and my relationships. Robert D. Myrick is a true legend whose work will continue to impact generations of school counselors, students, and families. Rest easy, Bob.

Carmen Larson, Ph.D.

Sarasota Middle School Counselor, Adjunct Professor

FSCA Past Chair Board of Directors (2015-2016 and 2022-2023), FSCA School Counselor of the Year (2023-2024), ASCA National School Counselor of the Year (2025).

I had the honor of attending the celebration of life for my mentor, professor, colleague, and friend, Dr. Bob Myrick, who passed away in November at the age of 90 (and a half)!

One of the most meaningful moments was standing in his home office—the very place where I sat with him so many times as a graduate student. That office is where we reviewed my dissertation, talked through class activities, and where I learned how to think deeply, practically, and courageously about school counseling. I was his last graduate assistant before he retired in 2003, and being there again reminded me just how much he shaped my journey—and, in turn, my influence on my graduate students.

I stood there with my UF roommate and lifelong dear friend, Liz. Bob always said we were “attached at the hip”… and nearly three decades later, we still are. A small but perfect testament to the relationships he helped shape and sustain.

I am profoundly grateful for the influence Dr. Myrick had on my life. Quite simply, if it weren’t for him, I would never have become a school counselor. He saw something in me before I fully saw it in myself—and then he nurtured it, challenged it, and advocated for it.

From him, I learned the art of advocacy—for students, for school counseling programs, and for our profession. I am certain my selection as the 2025 @weareasca School Counselor of the Year is due in large part to the advocacy mindset he instilled in me: speak up, stand firm, and always center students.

He also gifted me words that guide my work every day:

“Put chips in the bank” — keep investing in relationships with students

“Take your gains where you can get them,”

...and always, always “celebrate those gains!”

I am deeply thankful to his family for welcoming me so warmly and sharing special memories with us

I celebrate him—his life, his legacy, and his immeasurable impact on me and on the school counseling profession.

Thank you, Bob. Your chips are still earning interest—and your legacy lives on.

#SchoolCounseling #AdvocacyInAction #Legacy #GoGators