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MANATEE RIVER FAIR ASSOCIATION

MANATEE COUNTY DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN AWARD

     The Manatee County Distinguished Citizen Award is presented annually by the members of the Manatee River Fair Association in cooperation with the Board of Commissioners of Manatee County. This award recognizes those individuals who have made significant and meritorious contributions to Manatee County in the way of volunteer community service.
     Since 1956, the award has been presented at the Manatee County Fair in January.  In the spring, a reception and ceremony honors the award recipient when their footprints, along with those of previous winners, are unveiled in concrete on the sidewalk in front of the Manatee County Courthouse.
      Any Manatee County citizen may nominate individuals for the award.  The selection process for this prestigious award is based on the following:

  • The nominee(s) should currently reside in Manatee County. 
  • The nominee's(s') resume of service should demonstrate their longevity, depth and diversity of volunteer service for the benefit of the citizens of Manatee County but not directly related to their employment or professional responsibilities.
  • Active Fair Board  members are not eligible for this award.
  • Applications shall remain on file for consideration for a period of two years.

Resume of Service (Nomination Form)
     Click here to download*  the Distinguished Citizen Nomination Form or call the Manatee County Fair Office at 722-1639 to have one faxed or mailed to you.  The deadline for submitting a nomination is 5:00 P.M. on  December 14th.  Instructions are included with the form.
*Must have Acrobat Reader to download form.  Get Adobe Acrobat Reader here.
 

2008 Distinguished Citizen, Mr. O.M. "Buster" Griffith with his wife Mrs. Eileen Griffith at the Footprints Ceremony on the grounds of the Manatee County Courthouse.

 

 

Past Recipients

1956  Mr. J. Pope Harllee

1983  Mr. G.T. Bray

1957  Mr. and Mrs. E.E. Bishop

1984  Mr. Irving H. Stewart

1958  Mr. Anthony Rossi

1985  Mr. and Mrs. Paul Turbeville

1959  Miss Jessie Miller

1986  Mr. Clyde Gill

1960  Mrs. Dovie Larrabee

1987  Mrs. Louise Johnson

1961  Dr. W.L. Blake

1988  Mrs. Josephine Harrison

1962  Mr. H. Shelton Moody

1989  Dr. Joseph Gainey

1963  Dr. George E. White

1990  Mr. Peter S. Harllee, Sr.

1964  Mr. R.H. Prine

1991  Mr. Hal Chasey

1965  Dr. W.D. Sugg

1992  Mr. Daniel S. Blalock, Jr.

1966  Mr. Paul Meyers

1993  Dr. Robert E. King

1967  Mr. William Snyder, Sr.

1994  Joe and Libby Warner

1968  Mrs. Blanche Hendrickson

1995  Mr. R. Blake Whisenant

1969  Mr. R.M. Beall

1996  Mr. Archie Powell

1970  Mr. Tom Slaughter

1997  Miss Alice V. Myers

1971  Mr. Ed H. Price

1998  Dr. W.W. Harris

1972  Mr. Ed L. Ayers

1999  Mrs. Marjorie Kinnan

1973  Mrs. Sara Scott Harllee

2000  Mr. Verl Fielding

1974  Mr. William C. Grimes

2001  Judge Robert E. Hensley

1975  Dr. William E. Wentzel

2002  Mr. Gene Witt

1976  Mrs. Marian W. Forrester

2003  Robert and Edna Miller

1977  Mr. Al Grossman

2004  Coach Eddie Shannon

1978  Mr. Gordon Alderman

2005  Mr. Paul Bartley

1979  Marion Quattlebaum

2006  Mr. Don Varnadore

1980  Mr. Vick Blackstone 

2007  Rev. W.E. “Bud” Gillett

1981  Col. Warren Johnson

2008  Mr. O.M. "Buster" Griffith

1982  The DeSear Brothers

2009

 

Manatee River Fair Association
1402 14th Ave. West
Palmetto, FL 34221
Information Line:  941-722-8951
 Telephone: 941-722-1639
Fax: 941-722-5054
E-mail info@manateecountyfair.com