Greater Naples Leadership Masters Class XVII HISTORY DAY October 17, 2012 CONTENTS Agenda Goals and Objectives Speaker Biographi
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Greater Naples Leadership Masters Class XVII HISTORY DAY October 17, 2012 CONTENTS Agenda Goals and Objectives Speaker Biographies Our Walk from Ridgeways to Palm Cottage Brief History of Naples Volunteer Opportunities AGENDA Dress Code: Business casual for outdoors (comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses and umbrella (if rain is predicted) Session leaders: Cathy Boltz, Coordinator, Jim Morrison, Bill Swartz, and Betsy Wolf Location: Start and Finish Day: Ridgway Bar and Grill - 1300 3rd Street South, Naples, FL 34102 262-5500 Park in the lot across the street, behind Tommy Bahama’s and Sea Salt Restaurant ______________________________________________________________________ 7:30 Meet at Ridgway’s for continental breakfast Please be prompt & wear your GNL Name Tag! 7:40 Welcome and Introduction: Ken Lyons, Class Chair, and History Day Session Leaders 7:50 Panel: Long time residents and business owners give their perspective of changes in the Naples landscape. Earl and Thelma Hodges: Residents of Naples who have witnessed growth of Naples and Collier County since 1956. Mary Watkins: The Watkins family founded and owns the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club. Moderator: Mary Smith, President of the Naples Historical Society Board 8:20 Q & A 8:30 Comfort Break 8:50 Short walk of Old Naples--led by John Mayer and History Day Session Leaders. 9:15 Arrive at Palm Cottage. Elaine Reed, Executive Director, Naples Historical Society, will give an overview of the Naples Historical Society. 9:30 Break into three groups for tours of Palm Cottage given by Dottie Giles, John Mayer and Anne Raker. 10:30 Board bus for Collier County Museum 11:10 Arrive Collier County Museum Tim England, Manager of the Museum of the Everglades (a Collier County Museum), will present on the history of Everglades City. 11:30 Naomi Goren, Curator of Education, Collier County Museums, will present on Collier County history. 11:50 Q & A Noon Lunch at Collier County Museum, comfort break and touring the museum on your own. 12:40 Board bus for Marco Island Historical Society (the newest Collier County Museum) 1:25 Arrive Marco Island Historical Society 1:40 Interview with Herb Savage conducted by Bill Swartz, Cub Reporter. Kathy Miracco, President, Marco Island Historical Society, will give a summary of the Marco Island history 2:20 Q & A 2:30 Comfort break and snacks 2:50 Re-enactment by Ed and Kathy Miracco of Doctors Charles and Mary Olds. 3:10 Tour of the museum--Three groups led by Marion Nickolay, Elaine Michaeles and Louise Russell. 3:25 Board bus for Naples (complete the evaluation forms before arrival) 4:20 Arrive at Ridgway’s and receive the introduction for Education Day and folders. Cocktails at Ridgway Bar and Grill--one free drink coupon per person (wine, beer or soft drinks) Ridgway’s has offered to give us 2 for 1 cocktails and drinks that evening Ridgway’s has also offered to give us 20% off dinner that evening (Reservations would be appreciated) GOALS AND OBJECTIVES "Understand yesterday and today to build a better tomorrow." GOAL: To better understand Greater Naples’ past to see how it has influenced Greater Naples today. OBJECTIVES: * To review history of Collier County as seen by the early Native Americans, invaders, pioneers and more recent visionaries. * To visit historical sites and museums. * To provide historical background and context for future GNL sessions as you study the challenges and issues of today for the future of Naples and Collier County. * To ask each speaker to review what their community involvement has been and what they see as volunteer opportunities for Class XVII. "To help shine a light on where we are headed we need to examine our past, know who we are today and look into the future." Phil Lewis, Executive Editor, and Dave Neill, Publisher, Naples Daily News Your History Day Session Team is looking forward to helping each of you by sharing our own experiences while researching the history of Naples and Collier County. Cathy Boltz, Coordinator Bill Swartz Jim Morrison Betsy Wolf SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES Tony Ridgway: Tony is a graduate of Kenyon College and was in the USAF from 1967-1971. He spent time in Vietnam in 1969-1970 and finished a career as an Avionics Maintenance Officer for Air Force One. He began his restaurant career on October 4, 1971, in Naples, Florida. He is currently owner/operator of Tony's Off Third and Ridgway Bar & Grill, both in Olde Naples, and Bayside Seafood Grill & Bar in Park Shore. Tony participated in Leadership Collier in 1992. Food and the restaurant business are still his passions. It is a good thing, as they are a lot more difficult to operate than they were 41 years ago. His current hot buttons are Health Insurance and Hurricane coverage or lack thereof. Mary S. Smith: Mary, a Chicago native, was raised and continues to live in Barrington, Illinois, during the summer months. After graduation from Elgin Academy, Mrs. Smith attended Les Ambassadrices in Paris. Married at 23 to Stephen Byron Smith, the couple started started coming to Naples on yearly, but brief visits to his family's place at the Bahama Club. The couple's interest in Naples Botanical Garden and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida is on-going, but the focus of Mary's attention has been Naples Historical Society, of which she is the President. Mary Watkins: Mrs. Mary Watkins is the matriarch of the Watkins Family, owners of the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club. Mrs. Watkins is a graduate of Ohio State University, and moved to Naples as a new bride with her husband Henry in 1949, just 3 years after Mr. Watkins Sr. purchased the original Naples Beach Hotel. Henry Watkins was at one time Chairman of the Board for the Collier County School Board, Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, and Chairman of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce. Furthermore, he was instrumental in the relocation of the Collier County Seat from Everglades City to Naples. Mr. and Mrs. Watkins raised two sons, both whom continue to live in Naples. The Watkins Family represents 60 years of multi-generational community involvement and Mrs. Watkins is uniquely positioned to discuss the history and importance of the Hospitality Industry of Naples. Earl and Thelma Hodges: Earl came to Naples in 1956 to visit an uncle. He stayed to work in the funeral home profession and in 1962 he opened his own funeral home. The building, which was located at 3520 Tamiami Trail North, (U.S. 41), was known as the Earl G. Hodges Funeral Chapel and was expanded three times. It seated over 200 people during its existence. In addition to the Funeral Chapel in Naples, Earl also owned the Johnson-Hayes Funeral Home, with two locations in Gainesville and Trenton, Florida – along with an interest in the Colonial Crematorium also located in Gainesville. These holdings were sold a few years ago. The Naples Vault Company was founded by Mr. Hodges in the early 70’s and the Naples Crematorium in 1975. In January, 1983, he acquired the Casto Funeral Home, Golden Gate, Florida. Earl was Vice President of the Florida Funeral Directors Association 1979-1980, is past Chairman of the Collier County Red Cross, Past President of the United Way. Past President of the Chamber of Commerce, Past President of Naples Shrine Club, Past President of Swamp Buggy Days, Inc. and served for 10 years on the County Planning and Zoning Commission. He is recipient of the Naples Outstanding Citizen Award, International College Humanitarian Award, and Junior Achievement Leadership Award. Thelma and Earl were married in 1958. Thelma came to Naples in 1955 to work as a nurse and was one of the first three employees of Naples Community Hospital after it was opened. During the next several years she was in charge of the Emergency Room, Central Supply and Surgery. She worked for the Hospital for the next 20 years. Thelma has always been a member of the Naples Community Hospital Auxiliary and has served in nearly every officer position. Thelma is also past president of many of the local organizations, including the Junior Women’s Club, Visiting Nurses Council, Chairman of Bazaar Luncheons, and Chairman of the Old Timers Association. She was recently honored as one of the “Women of Power” in SWFL by the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce. They were honored in 2007 when Hodges University became their namesake in recognition of their significant gift to the institution as well as their community service. John Mayer: Born in Austin, Minnesota, John graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1964. He worked as a Funeral Director for over thirty years. John’s parents discovered Naples in 1955, and he knew, then, that some day he would retire to Naples. John became a Florida resident in 1995, and has been involved with the Naples Historical Society for over 17 years. He is now serving his third term as a board member. Elaine Reed: Elaine, Executive Director for the Naples Historical Society, possesses over 20 years of strategic marketing management and economic development experience in the U.S. private sector and on U.S.A.I.D.-funded projects in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. While overseas she lived in Albania, Armenia, Hungary, and Ukraine. She holds an MPA in Nonprofit Organizations from Hodges University and an undergraduate degree in Marketing from the University of Cincinnati. Her credentials include the writing of two textbooks; one book was a supplemental college textbook, which was a case study, and another book called The Art of Marketing, which was translated and published for national distribution in Albania.