Pioneer Day 2007

Historical  Commission  Chair  Phyllis  Loconto  was  the  Master  of  Ceremonies


Historical  Commissioner   Betty  Whatley  Cobb  (left) relaxed  with  Pioneers 
Barbara  and  George  Graveson (seated)  and  John  Smiley, Jr.  (standing)

The Broward County Historical Commission is pleased to announce Pioneer Days 2007. Under the umbrella of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, the Broward County Historical Commission will join the Broward County Library Division in co-sponsoring this event. This year the Libraries Division has graciously consented to hold the ceremony on November 3, 2007 at the spacious Main Library in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

This year's Pioneer Days marks the county's 92nd Anniversary and celebrates its rich history while remembering the experiences that give each of our cities its unique character. The legacy of the county's early pioneers can serve as a model for successive generations in inspiring them to preserve those essential elements that most distinguish this place we call "home," Broward County.

Broward  Historian  Helen  Landers, Historical  Commissioner
Mona  Habib  and  Senator and  Pioneer   Nan  Rich 

A special ceremony will recognize individual Pioneers selected annually by local historical societies and municipalities for their unique contributions to the vitality of Broward County. This year's 52 pioneers will join the 1,914 others who have been inducted into this special group. Congratulations to each of the following Broward Count Pioneers for this well-deserved honor!

Pioneers selected by the Broward County Historical Commission:

Pioneer Beauregard Cummings

Pioneer Gloria Jean Morris

Pioneer John Noyes

Ms. Mary Black Rizor
(photo unavailable)

Pioneer Helen Seacrest Roberts

Pioneer Col. John A. Smiley, Jr.

Pioneer Irene Riley Hart

Rev. Rudolph Wilson, Sr.
(photo unavailable)

Pioneer Margaret Matilda Wilson recieves her award
from Historical Commissioner James Bradley

Mr. Frederick Wilson, Sr.
(photo unavailable)

Pioneer Mary Lou Woods-Gainey

Pioneers selected by the Broward County Genealogical Society:

Pioneer Virginia Fletcher

Pioneer Modesta "Molly" Vessella-DiPetrillo

Pioneer selected by the Broward County Retired Educator's Association:
Ms. Reva Moore
(no image available) 

  First  School  Bus  in  Broward  County
Image  courtesy  of  the  Davie  Historical  Society

Pioneers selected by Cooper City:

Pioneer Anne Rita Culotta and Cooper City Mayor Debby Eisinger

Pioneer Mary Catherine Genova

Pioneer selected by Coral Springs:

Coral Springs Historian Wendy Wangberg
and Pioneer Mr. Alfonso Louis Nigro

Pioneers selected by Davie Historical Society:

Davie Historical Society Secretary Barbara McCall, Historical
Commissioner James Bradley and Pioneer Riley Evans

Historical Commissioner James Bradley presents
an award to Pioneer Marlene Lenz Kennedy

Pioneer selected by the Deerfield Beach Historical Society:
Mr. James David Eller
(photo unavailable)

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Pioneers selected by the Elders' Council, Inc. Of The African-American Research Library and Cultural Center:

Pioneer Bessie Gertrude Bonner


Pioneer Dr. Dorothy Lee Miller


Pioneer Barbara Jean Roberts


Pioneer Verdelle Thorpe Walker


Pioneer Tommie Jean Wright

  African-American   Research   and   Cultural  Center
Photograph  by  Denyse  Cunningham

Pioneer selected by the Hollywood Historical Society
Mr. Victor DeBianchi
(photo unavailable)

Pioneer selected by the Lauderdale Lakes Historic Preservation Board:

Pioneer Lucille Asunta D'Orso

Pioneers selected by the City of Miramar:

Pioneer Margaret Frances Campbell

Ms. Marjorie J. Conlan
(photo unavailable)

Ms. Mary Nortmann Raynor
(photo unavailable)

    Miramar   Water   Tower
Pphotograph  by   Cleary  Shea

Pioneer selected by Oakland Park Historical Society:
Ms. Mary Lee Beasley
(photo unavailable)

  Old  Parkland  City  Hall
Photograph  by  Bill  Cunningham

Pioneers selected by Parkland Historical Society:
Ms. Constance Quigley
(photo unavailable)
Ms. Beatrice Williams
(Phot unavailable)
Mr. John Fontana
(photo unavailable)
Ms. Louise Fontana
(phot unavailable)

Pioneers selected by Plantation Historical Society:
Ms. Barbara Hoeltzel Graveson
Mr. George Graveson

Pioneers selected by Pompano Beach Historical Society:
Ms. Vicki Newana Bowman
(photo unavailble)


Pioneers Mr. Robert Braswell and Phyllis Chapman


Pioneer Ms. Shirley Farris

Mr. Cecil Holloway
Ms. Robbie Lee Holloway
(photos unavailable)


Pompano Beach Historical Society Director Dan Hobby and 
Pioneers Betty Jean McNab and James McNab

  Old  fire  station,  Founders  Park,  Pompano  Beach

Pioneers selected by Southwest Ranches Historical Society:

Pioneers Vincent John Falleita, George R. Williams
and Rebecca Ruth Wolff

Pioneer selected by City of Tamarac:

Pioneer Leo Kaplan and Tamarac Commissioner Atkins-Grad

Pioneer selected by the Weston Historical Society:
Senator Nan Herman Rich

Pioneers selected by Wilton Manors Historical Society:

Ms. Madgeline Elizabeth Thuma


Pioneer Cynthia Ann Thuma and her son

  Early promotional brochure

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We will also present awards for those individuals and organizations that exemplify meticulous historical research or preservation advocacy. The Historical Commission actively promotes these ideals in its efforts to educate the public about Broward County's significant local heritage.

The Broward County Historical Commission 2007 award nominations include:

Judge Clayton Nance Award
This award will be presented in recognition Broward County Parks and Recreation Natural Areas for the restoration of the historic Baez House and their leadership in saving archaeological and historical sites and the preservation of environmentally sensitive land. This government agency's efforts to honor and preserve vital pieces of Broward's past and establish places of lasting value to the community follows the tradition set by Judge Nance when he founded the Historical Commission over a quarter century ago.

Judge  Clayton  Nance's  wife  Dorothy  and  her  daughter  
Margo attened  the  event

Broward County Parks and Recreation Natural Areas have set a fine example of preservation advocacy and education of a type promoted by the Historical Commission in its efforts to educate the public about our significant local heritage.

  The  restored  Baez  House,  Long  Key,  Davie
Image  courtesy  Broward  County  Parks  and  Recreation  Natural  Areas


Historical  Commission  Chair  Phyllis  Loconto,  Carol   Morganstern 
of   the   Parks   Division  and  Historical  Commissioner  Peg  McPherson

Dr. Cooper Kirk Award
This award will be given to Debbie Duay, Ph. D., Regent of the Lighthouse Point Daughters of American Revolution, for her tireless efforts to present meticulously researched genealogical records on-line. These Broward County records include marriage indexes for 1915 to 1937, cemetery records, elected officials, WW I veterans and the founding families of Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale. Links to her sites can be found on the Historical Commission's web site at www.broward/history.

Dr. Duay's efforts mirror those of Dr. Cooper Kirk, the first Broward County Historian, whose dedication to spreading the knowledge of the history of the county was unparalleled.

Historical Commissioner MarlaSherman Dumas,
Dr. Debbie Duay and Dr. Kirk's widow Nella Kirk

 Dr.  Duay  transcribes  head  stones  in  Pompano
Image  courtesy  of  Dr.  Duay

An   example   of   a   record   Dr.  Duay  has  transcribed 
and  made  available  to  researchers  on  the  Web

Historian Award
Author Cynthia A. Thuma will be honored for her wonderful new book, SPORT LAUDERDALE: BIG NAMES AND BIG GAMES.

Historical  Commissioner  and  noted  author  Stewart  McIver
presented   the  Historians  Award  to  Cynthia  Thuma

Broward County Historical Commissions Special Award
Southwest Ranches Historical Society founder Mary Gay Chaples will be presented with the Historical Commission's Special award for her foresight in creating the new society which will preserve the important history of this unique municipality.


Pioneer  Vincent  Falleita   accepted   the   Historical   Commission  Special  Award  from  Historical Commissioner  and  Hallandale  Beach  Vice  Mayor  Bill  Julian

Volunteer Awards
Tireless volunteers Corliss Bennett and Ruth Landini will be honored for their dedication to the work of the Historical Commission and their hours of service to the community.

Historical  Commissioner  Betty  Whatley  Cobb  presented
the  Volunteer  Awards t o  Corky  Bennet  and  Ruth  Landini

Miramar  Mayor  Moseley  led  the  Pledge  of  Allegiance  to  the  Flag


Entertainer  Frank  Loconto   sang  the  National  Anthem 

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