For nearly 20 years, the Great Brooksvillian project has recognized individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Brooksville community. And now, the City of Brooksville is embarking on a search for the 2021 Great Brooksvillian.
“The City of Brooksville would like to recognize outstanding men and women who have made significant positive contributions to the history, culture and/or economy of our community,” reads a related notice.
Each year, the Brooksville City Council determines the recipient of this honor. Nominees, who may be alive or dead, should be an individual whose contributions are known and recognizable by residents, or whose contribution holds significance to the City of Brooksville. Nominees then go through a committee selection process before the city council approves the Great Brooksvillian.
“We enjoy doing this every year, honoring great community achievements of those men and women who made contributions to the City of Brooksville,” said city clerk Jennifer Battista.
Since its inception in 2002, the Great Brooksvillian honor has gone to a vast spectrum of local luminaries. “The first winner was Alfred A. McKethan, banker, city boards member and founder of banking institutions in Hernando County,” Battista said. “We’ve honored former mayor Joe Johnston, Margaret Rogers Ghiotto, founder of Rogers Christmas House, and Jan Knowles, the volunteer to end all volunteers.”
Other Great Brooksvillians include museum and gallery founders, business owners, philanthropic leaders, church leaders, politicians, arts supporters, medical professionals, historians, and more. The 2020 Great Brooksvillian was Luther E. Cason, Funeral Director, long time City business owner, community and civic leader, former Mayor, and City Council Member.
Who will be the next Great Brooksvillian? To play a role in selecting the next winner, make your nomination today for the 2021 Great Brooksvillian.
“Consideration should be given to the historical perspective of nominees,” read nomination guidelines. “Individuals can be nominated by anyone in the community and a standard nomination form will be used by City Council annually during the nomination period.”
People nominated from past years may be re-nominated if not chosen; however, a nominee can’t be nominated for the award if they are a previous recipient. Self-nominations are not permitted. Send the original nomination form and one recent photo (if available).
Download the nomination form at https://qrgo.page.link/jfF3T, or pick up a form at 201 Howell Avenue, Brooksville. Then submit the completed form by Friday, June 18 at 5 pm to:
City of Brooksville, Attention: Deputy City Clerk 201 Howell Avenue Brooksville, FL 34601. Write [email protected] for more information.
The winner’s name will be added to a cumulative plaque maintained in Brooksville City Hall to commemorate and memorialize honorees. In addition, an individual plaque will be presented to the honoree and his/her family. And the winner will be honored at a special reception in their honor.
Battista feels that, in return, the 2021 Great Brooksvillian will bequeath a great deal of inspiration onto the Brooksville community. “The Great Brooksvillian gives the community something to aspire to,” she said.
