Plant City curator Gilbert Gott was the keynote speaker at Monday’s meeting, and his topic was “A Brief History of the Plant City Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award.” Gil opened the meeting recognizing fellow Rotarian Jim Scott, who is the most recent recipient of this award in 2020.
Plant City’s awareness of and efforts towards community service date back to the 1950’s. The 1950s witnessed a flourish in the civic spirit and civic clubs with the Woman’s Club, Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees, Business & Professional Women’s Club (BPW), Kiwanis, Lions, Pilot Club, Civitan, American Legion, and several others.
Additionally, the Plant City Courier was a continuing force in supporting community activity. The overall efforts led to a new library and the clubs began recognizing individuals for their community activity.
The BPW started the Outstanding Career Woman award, the Jaycees had the Good Government Award, the Jr. Woman’s Club instituted the Family of the Year Award, and, in 1960, the First National Bank in Plant City began the Excellence in Service Award for the Outstanding Citizen of the Year, involving Plant City’s civic clubs.
The First National Bank in Plant City was merged and closed in 1972 and the Kiwanis Club of Plant City agreed to host the event on behalf of the civic clubs in Plant City and has been continuing to host the event ever since. The clubs participating have changed but the event, which D. E. Bailey called the community’s most prestigious award, will continue in its tradition.
The first two award recipients were Arthur Rice Boring, in 1960, and Quintilla Geer Bruton, in 1961.
Arthur Boring served in the U. S. Ambulance Service attached to the French Army in 1917-1918 during WWI. He was a member of the American Legion Norman McLeod Post 26 and during his 40 years held most Legion offices as well as being elected State Commander in 1935.
Boring worked for Hillsboro State Bank for over 40 years and was President from 1955 until his death in 1963. He was a director of the Florida Strawberry Festival for 30 years, a City Commissioner and Mayor, and past President of the East Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce.
Quintilla Geer Bruton was a 1926 Plant City High School Valedictorian, active in Orchestra, Forum Club, Science Club, Class Reporter, Tennis, Editor of the Kanyuksaw yearbook, and outstanding violinist.
Quintilla was an ornithologist and conservationist, with her husband J. D. Bruton, she constructed a 50-acre wildlife and bird sanctuary called Audubon Acres, where she would lead school children on tours along the many trails. As President of the Woman’s Club, she spearheaded the drive for a city library. She was a former Chair of the Plant City Library Board and Chair of the State Library Board.
This year’s event is at 11:30 am on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at the TECO Expo Hall on the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds. Tickets are $30, and can be purchased by contacting Sharon Moody at 813-453-7134 or sharonmoody91@yahoo.com.
--submitted by Scott Gardner
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