Agenda 11/18/2014 Item # 4DPROCLAMA TION 11 /18/2014 4. D.
WHEREAS, Rep. Hawkins moved to Nap /es in 1972 and was elected to House District 89 in 1974 as the first
Republican and the first female representative elected to the Florida House from Nap /es. She
served in the Florida House for ten terms until her retirement in 1994. Rep. Hawkins still remains
the longest serving State Representative from Collier County.
WHEREAS, Mary Ellen Hawkins is a former member of the Florida House of Representatives from Naples,
Florida. An Alabama native, Rep. Hawkins graduated from the University of Alabama and went on
to be a newspaper reporter, teacher, and a congressional aide to several congressmen for over ten
years before her service in the Florida House of Representatives.
WHEREAS, While in the Florida Legislature, Rep. Hawkins played a leading role on legislative committees with
jurisdiction over growth management, the environment, transportation, education, tourism and
appropriations.
WHEREAS, In 1976, Rep. Hawkins worked tirelessly for legislation to create the Big Cypress Basin within the
Southwest Florida Water Management District. This single piece of legislation has had a significant
impact on Southwest Florida and its development as a first class community.
WHEREAS, In 1989, Rep. Hawkins helped to secure $3.4 million dollars in funding from the State of Florida
for The Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts, which is now a nationally recognized facility.
WHEREAS, After Rep. Hawkins returned from the Florida House she continued to have a strong influence on
Southwest Florida. She was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to a second three year term as a
member of the governing board of the Big Cypress Basin where she served as the Vice- Chair.
WHEREAS, In 1998, the Basin's headquarters was named the Mary Ellen Hawkins Building for her dedicated
service,
WHEREAS, citizens of Collier County express their appreciation for her many contributions and outstanding
efforts to promote the well -being of the residents of Collier County, and her initiatives have had
and will continue to have a significant effect on sustaining the quality of life for generations to
come.
NOW THEREFORE, be it proclaimed by the Board of County Commissioners of Collier Coun*y,
Florida, that November 18th be designated as
Mary Ellen Hawkins Appreciation Day in Collier County
DONE AND ORDERED THIS 18th Day of November, 2014
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
TOM HENNING, CHAIRMAN
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11 /18/2014 4. D.
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 4A.D.
Item Summary: Proclamation to designate November 18, 2014 Mary Ellen Hawkins
Appreciation Day in Collier County. To be accepted by Mary Ellen Hawkins. (Commissioner
Henning)
Meeting Date: 11/18/2014
Prepared By
Name: SmithCamden
Title: Executive Coordinator to Commissioner,
I (/11/2014 1:51:45 PM
Approved By
Name: DurhamTim
Title: Executive Manager of Corp Business Ops,
Date: l 1/] 2/2014 7:44:03 AM
Name: DurhamTim
Title: Executive Manager of Corp Business Ops,
Date: 11/12/2014 8:37:00 AM
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