Every year, Brooksville recognizes an outstanding man or woman that has contributed significantly to the culture, history, or economy of the city by naming a “Great Brooksvillian.” The candidates are chosen by a screening committee and the recipients are ultimately decided by the Brooksville City Council.
On August 12, Richard Carlton, the Vice Chairman of the Great Brooksvillian Screening Committee, announced this year’s shortlist of finalists for the honor at Monday’s city council meeting. The trio included Martha Maner, Mabel Sims, and Joel “Wardy” Smith. Following a motion by Councilmember Thomas Bronson, the council voted unanimously for Smith to be named the 2024 Great Brooksvillian.
“All of these are great choices,” said Bronson. “I know for the past two years since I’ve been on council and when I was running for election, when I was going door-to-door, I heard about the story of “Wardy” Smith and how he did a lot with a little. That seems to be the common denominator of making a Great Brooksvillian is doing a lot with a little […]”
Born in Hernando County on April 3, 1891, Joel Ward “Wardy” Smith was one of 10 children. According to a description of his life by K.O. Smith and Lynne Smith on a Great Brooksvillian nomination form, Joel was raised on a farm and went to school until he was nine years old. Once his father died, “Wardy” quit school to work and help support his mother and siblings. He worked various jobs to be able to take care of his family including farming, carpentry, and picking citrus and
vegetables.
After gaining employment with the Bell Fruit Company, the organization sent Smith to business school. He then rose up the ranks to become a Secretary and Manager of the Cocoa Citrus Growers Association for roughly a year before returning to Brooksville. This is when Smith came to own and manage his own citrus grove and packing house.
The Great Brooksvillian would become “the first local citrus grower to ship fruit to New York City by refrigerated train car,” the form stated. Smith’s packing business then merged with the Brooksville Citrus Growers Association in 1927 and he served in the role of Manager and Secretary for the group for over three decades. He was eventually able to send all three of his children to the University of Florida for education.
Smith also took part in humanitarian efforts, which included the creation of a baseball diamond on the corner of his pasture for African American members of the community to play on. This was before schools and other such teams were integrated. He bought a stained-glass window for The First United Methodist Church and donated a parcel of land to the local Humane Society in the 1960s. “He was the biggest talker in Hernando County, never knew a stranger,” the recommendation added.
“This is one of the favorite things I do: learning about all the accomplishments the talented people of Brooksville have made throughout their lives,” Carlton noted. According to another Great Brooksvillian nomination form, there were a handful of criteria for eligibility for nominees to be named to this honor:
Their contributions are easily recognizable and significant to the city of Brooksville.
May be alive or deceased at the time of nomination.
The “historical perspective” of the nominee should be considered.
Anyone in the community may nominate a candidate.
Previous recipients of the award may not be re-nominated, but previous nominees who were not selected may be nominated again.
Self-nominations will not be accepted.
The plaque, reception costs, and invitations/mailing should cost the city a total of approximately $750.00. Though there is no exact date yet, the award presentation will take place in October in conjunction with the city’s annual Founder’s Week.
