We know that Barron Gift Collier founded the largest County in Florida in 1923 and completed the Tamiami Trail. But, he also owned a chain of luxury resort hotels, a telephone company, a newspaper, a shipping line, and a bus company. That is not all he did! The amazing man from Memphis was a leader in New York City during the “Roaring Twenties” and a friend of flamboyant Mayor Jimmy Walker. Collier was a colleague of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the Boy Scout movement, a neighbor of John D. Rockefeller, and an important participant in civic affairs.

You can learn more at an illustrated presentation “Who Was Barron Collier?” on Friday, November 15, at 5:30 p.m. in the Jinkins Fellowship Hall behind Everglades Community Church. Speaker Marya Repko will have copies of her books for sale that she can sign for you.

The event is hosted by the Everglades Society for Historic Preservation and admission is free but reservations are requested. To learn more, see www.evergladeshistorical.org or phone Marya at (239) 695-2905.