City of Fort Lauderdale Honors Its Best
Celebrate the Citizen Recognition Awards Slated for Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Petula Burks, Public Information Specialist
(954) 828-4742 or petulab@fortlauderdale.gov
Fort Lauderdale –The City of Fort Lauderdale is celebrating its best with the Citizen Recognition Awards. This year’s award winners for the four categories are:
Citizen of the Year – Essie “Big Mama” Reed
The Citizen of the Year award is for that person who, in the opinion of the Committee and the City Commission, has made the greatest contribution to the community in the current year. The Citizen of the Year must be a resident of the City of Fort Lauderdale.
Distinguished Citizen – Frederic E. Stresau
The Distinguished Citizen award is given to that resident of the community who has contributed to the development of the community over a number of years (i.e., a pioneer).
Exemplary Former Employee – Michael A. Pursell
The Exemplary Former City Employee category was initiated in 1997. The award recognizes a former City employee who has served the citizens of Fort Lauderdale for a significant number of years and whose service has made a significant impact on the development and quality of life for the community. This person may be retired, deceased or separated from the City.
Honored Founder – Ted E. Drum
The Honored Founder award is for a courageous citizen who prepared the way for future growth and harmony in Fort Lauderdale. This person may be deceased.
The City of Fort Lauderdale initiated the Citizen Recognition Program in 1972. The purpose of the program is to give public recognition to citizens who contributed in
significant ways to the development of this community.
Honorees are selected by the Citizens’ Committee of Recognition, which consists of all former Mayors of Fort Lauderdale as well as one former honoree and the President of the Fort Lauderdale Council of Civic Associations. The Committee’s recommendations are forwarded to the City Commission for approval.
In 1983, the Citizens’ Committee of Recognition recommended that effective in 1984, the Citizen Recognition Program would be revised to include a Citizen of the Year and a Distinguished Citizen honoree. The program was again amended in 1989 to include an Honored Founder category effective in 1990. In 1997, the category of Exemplary Former City Employee was added.
Since the inception of the Citizen Recognition Program, 97 outstanding citizens have received such honors.
Join the City of Fort Lauderdale and this year’s honorees in City Hall Commission Chambers on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 11:30 am for the 35th Annual Awards Ceremony.
Who: City of Fort Lauderdale and the Citizen’s Committee of Recognition
What: Citizen Recognition Awards
When: Tuesday, April 21, 2009,
11:30 am
Where: City Hall Commission Chambers,
100 N. Andrews Avenue,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
For more information, contact Petula Burks at 954-828-4742 or petulab@fortlauderdale.gov.
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