RESUME

Lindsey Wilger Williams

APRIL 15, 2007

1318 San Mateo Dr.
Punta Gorda, Florida 33950

Phone: 941/637-8013
E-mail:linwms@lindseywilliams.org
Web-site: www.LindseyWilliams.org

PERSONAL

  1. Born: Jan. 29, 1920 at Steele, Mo.
  2. Married: June 5, 1942, Cona (nee Barnes). Four married children, four grandchildren.

PRESENT WORK (In retirement)

  • Columnist for Suncoast Media Group. Flagship: Charlotte County Sun. Associated dailies: Englewood Sun, Arcadia Sun, Northport Sun. Publisher Derek Dunn-Rankin.
  • Subjects: “Our Fascinating Past” -- area history. “Lindsey At Large” – offbeat topics.
  • “Byline” -- national events editorial opinion.

BOOKS PUBLISHED

  • “Boldly Onward: Early Spanish Explorers in Florida”
  • “Our Fascinating Past: Charlotte Harbor Early Years”
  • “Our Fascinating Past: Charlotte Harbor Later Years”
  • “Arise Wild Land” -- Wayne County, Ohio”

EXTENSIVE BOOKLETS PUBLISHED

  • “Old Paths In The New Purchase” -- Indian trails of N.E. Ohio”
  • “Voice Of An Era” -- History Of the Telephone in Michigan”
  • “75 Years of Service Above Self” – Punta Gorda Rotary history.
  • “A Century of Mission” – History of Punta Gorda First Presbyterian.
  • “History of Charlotte County Cultural Center.”

WORKS IN PROGRESS

  • “Adventures of Charlotte Harbor Area Pioneer Kids” – for grade 4.
  • “Scourge of the Last Caribbean Pirates” – History of Adm. Porter.
  • “Growing Up Down Home” – Yarns from Boot Heel Missouri.

ACTIVE AFFILIATIONS

  1. Moderator, Fifth Saturday Anomalists – mysteries of science, legend and history.
  2. Punta Gorda Historical Society -- History Park restorations.
  3. Advisory Board, Blanchard Museum of Black History and Culture, Punta Gorda, Fl.
  4. Freeman Home Guild (Victorian restoration museum), Punta Gorda, Fl.
  5. Rotary Club, Punta Gorda, Fl. -- membership committee.
  6. College of Past District Governors, Florida Rotary District 6960.

SOME HONORS

  • Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, George Washington Medal, 1973, for series of newspaper columns relating American history to current events.
  • Daughters of the American Revolution, National Medal of Honor, 1999, for “Leadership, Trustworthiness, Service, Patriotism.”
  • Florida Historical Society, Golden Quill Award 1997, for book “Our Fascinating Past: Charlotte Harbor Later Years.” Golden Quill Awards 2003, 2005 for Outstanding Continuing Series of Local History.
  • Genesis Award, University Club of Charlotte County, Florida, 1995, for “dedication to, and writings of, history and politics.”
  • Mayoral Proclamation 1994, for “Preservation of Historic Punta Gorda.”
  • Flint Michigan Central High School, Distinguished Alumni Award, 1995.
  • Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow, 1970, by Rittman Rotary, for establishing annual Rittman Art Show, and annual Rittman Horse Show.
  • Honorary Lt. Governor of Ohio, 1972, by George Voinovich, now U.S. Senator..
  • Rotarian of the Year, 1986, Punta Gorda club.
  • Service Above Self Award, 1993, Punta Gorda Rotary Club.
  • Dedication Scroll, American Forestry Assn., for research leading to designation of Hernando DeSoto Historic Live Oak Grove at Charlotte Harbor Town, Fla., 1993.
  • Rittman, Ohio, Co-Citizens of the Year, 1965, with wife Cona – me for founding Rittman United Way, she for Rittman-Wadsworth new hospital drive. Only time the award has been shared.
  • Key to the City, Rittman, for chairmanship of the U.S. Bicentennial celebration. Only time a Rittman Key has been presented to a local citizen.
  • Outstanding Service Award, 1967, American Cancer Society, Cleveland.
  • Golden Eagle Award 1964 by city of Rittman, Ohio, for founding United Way there.

FORMER WORK CAREER

  1. Publisher: 1959-1979 -- Lindsey Press, Inc., Ohio Hometown Newspapers Group –
    • Bedford Times-Register
    • Maple Heights Press
    • Hudson Times
    • Stow Sentry
    • Cuyahoga Falls News
    • Rittman Press
    • Loudonville Times
  2. Columnist “Front And Center” -- Journalist Syndicate, 24 newspapers, Ohio. 1975-81,
  3. Bell Telephone System 1946-1959:
    • AT&T, New York -- public relations assistant for national magazines, editor for Bell subsidiaries monthly features packet;
    • Michigan Bell, Detroit -- editorial director, TV/radio advertising manager, news supervisor, display/exhibit manager, district commercial supervisor, disaster report team, Public Service Commission report team, labor relations report team. Instructor on “Change Techniques” and “Corporate Finance.
  4. Detroit Free Press 1945-46: General assignment reporter, feature writer.
  5. Flint ( Mich.) Daily Journal 1939-1941: Sports writer.

SOME FORMER AFFILIATIONS

Florida :

  1. President, Charlotte-DeSoto Foundation, ownership and management of Florida Southern College local campus and scholarships.
  2. Chmn, Charlotte County Historic Preservation Board.
  3. Chmn., Punta Gorda Historic Preservation Board.
  4. Board, Lifelong Learning Institute at Edison College, Punta Gorda, Fl.; Chmn. Distinguished Lectures Committee.
  5. Florida Historical Society, Board member, Chmn. Popular History.
  6. Punta Gorda Revitalization Committee, National Register of Historic Districts.
  7. Board, Charlotte Harbor Town Community Redevelopment Agency.
  8. Rotary Multi-District director Foreign Exchange Students.
  9. Rotary Gift Of Life, Sarasota -- free heart surgery for needy children.
  10. Peace River Power Squadron – Lt., public relations officer west Florida, basic boating instructor.
  11. Southwest Florida Archaeology Society.
  12. Florida Anthropological Society.
  13. Museum Of The Islands, Pine Island.
  14. Board, Barrier Islands Park Society, Boca Grande.
  15. Chmn, Charlotte County, Florida Sesquicentennial Committee.
  16. Instructor, Creative Thinking and Writing, Charlotte County Adult Education Program.
  17. Chmn. Rotary District 6960, Literacy Promotion Committee.
  18. Chmn. Rotary Districict 6960, Student Exchange Program.
  19. Vice-President, depot restoration project, Old Punta Gorda, Inc.,

Ohio :

  1. President, Rittman Area Historical Society.
  2. Board, Wayne County Historical Society.
  3. Chmn. U.S. Bicentennial Committee, Rittman.
  4. Co-chmn. U.S. Bicentennial Committee, Wayne County.
  5. Wayne County chairman, Republican Executive Committee.
  6. Republican County Chairmen Association.
  7. Delegate, 1968 Republican National Convention at Miami.
  8. Board, Boys’ Village, Smithville. Chmn. Public Relations.
  9. Board, Stark-Wayne Counties American Lung Association.
  10. Board, American Lung Association of Ohio.
  11. Wayne County Commissioners’ Task Force.
  12. President, Wayne County Election Board.
  13. President, United Way of Rittman.
  14. Board, United Foundation of Summit County.
  15. President, Rittman Chamber of Commerce.
  16. Archivist, City of Rittman.
  17. President, Rittman Area Industrial Development Corp. (non profit).
  18. Rittman president, Ohio Community Development Commission.
  19. Vice-president, Greater Cleveland Weekly Newspaper Association.
  20. Sigma Delta Chi, Buckeye Professional Chapter of the National Press Fraternity.
  21. University Club of Akron.
  22. Advisor, Junior Achievement Club, Rittman.
  23. President, Rittman Rotary Club.
  24. Governor, 1967, Rotary District 665, Ohio.
  25. Chairman, publications committee, Rotary International (Chicago).
  26. Instructor, Rotary International Governors Institute, Lake Placid, N.Y.
  27. Rotary International President’s Representative at three U.S. district conventions.
  28. Chairman, five Rotary International Leadership Seminars in Pennsylvania..
  29. Speaker, public relations, Rotary International Convention at Montreal, Canada.
  30. Master, Ellenwood Lodge, Free & Accepted Masons, Rittman.
  31. 32nd Degree, Scottish Rite Masonic Order, Canton, Ohio.
  32. Masonic Shrine Club, Akron.
  33. Advisor, 4-H Club, Rittman.
  34. American Legion, Rittman Post.
  35. President Fine Arts Committee, Rittman.

MILITARY SERVICE

U.S Navy 1941-1945:

  1. USS Eagle 27 – Yeoman First Class (warrant officer qualified).
  2. USS McCann (DE 179) --Yeoman Second Class, ship’s photographer.
  3. Navy Public Relations Office, Detroit – Specialist Writer, press.

EDUCATION (War Interrupted)

  1. Associate Arts (English) Flint, Mich, Mott Community College ( University of Michigan affiliate).
  2. Post-graduate course, marketing and public opinion surveying, Wayne State University, Detroit.
  3. Flint Central High School. News Editor semi-weekly newspaper “Arrow Head.”

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