Recently Retired Earl Lennard To Speak About Hometown History

A lifelong resident of Riverview, Earl Lennard will talk about the community's history and remembrances of growing up in south Hillsborough County at the Wednesday, Jan. 16 meeting of the Riverview Woman's Club.

The meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. with networking and a luncheon from noon to 1 p.m. at Doc's Grill at the Summerfield Crossings Golf Club, 13050 Summerfield Blvd., Riverview.

Lennard, 70. who recently celebrated his retirement as Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections, is well qualified to speak about the Riverview area.

• Raised in Riverview, he attended Brandon High School and then earned his bachelor’s from the University of South Florida. He became a Hillsborough County classroom teacher and later a principal in the Hillsborough County School System.

• After earning his master's degree from the University of Florida and a doctorate from USF, Lennard went on to be named superintendent of the school district during its greatest period of growth, from 1996 to 2005. During that time, he was named Florida Superintendent of the Year in 2003 by the Florida Association of District School Superintendents.

• In 2005, he retired to spend more time working on his 12-acre farm in Riverview. However, his retirement was shortlived.

• In 2009, then-Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Lennard as Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections following the sudden death of Phyllis Busansky.

• Lennard has accumulated a number of honors over his 50-year career in Hillsborough County including the Ellsworth Simmons Good Government Award from the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.

• In 2006, a new high school opened in Ruskin and was named in Lennard's honor.

The cost to attend Wednesday's lunch is $14. For reservations, contact Jeanne Burkeson at 813-334-3196 or email Jeanne@square-oneinspection.com.