Local Government No Home Planned for Distinguished Citizen Footprints

No Home Planned for Distinguished Citizen Footprints

BRADENTON – Just last year, any resident visiting the historic Manatee County Courthouse would walk across the county’s own walk of fame – a lane of concrete footprints immortalizing the Distinguished Citizens of Manatee County. In January the slabs were removed from the courthouse, put into storage and replaced with pavers – but now community leaders aren’t sure what to do with them.

For 56 years the Manatee River Fair Association has elected an annual Distinguished Citizen, an award that recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions in volunteer and community service. But when renovations began on the courthouse and Manatee Avenue last year, heavy construction machinery ran over the footprints lining Manatee Avenue and inadvertently damaged some.

”Luckily the Sheriff’s office was able to take casts of the damaged footprints and we were able to save them,“ said R.B. ”Chips“ Shore, clerk of circuit court. 

Shore hastily pulled up the prized relics and put them in storage. He said at the time, he wasn’t sure where they would finally be laid to rest.

”We were running out of room in the courthouse courtyard, there were only a few more spots where we could have placed future footprints,“ said Shore. ”Plus no one really noticed them. They were stepped on and spit on and everything else. I’d like to see them go somewhere where they could be appreciated.“

At first officials thought they should be displayed at the Manatee County Fair Grounds, but opponents want them to be exhibited where they can be appreciated year-round, instead of the ten-day duration of the fair . The MRFA met recently and suggested they be placed at Riverwalk, a substantial extension in the Rossi Waterfront Park between 9th Street West and 6th Street East. . 

At Wednesday’s Bradenton City Council workshop, councilwoman Marianne Barneby volunteered to bring the issue in front of county commission, but not all city representatives were supportive of the undertaking. 

Mayor Wayne Poston said it was a county problem that required county approval and Bradenton officials should avoid the topic altogether.

”I want to stay out of the fight,“ said Poston. ”It’s the fair board who should go to the county commission, not us.“

Councilman Gene Gallo agreed.

”That could be a hot potato and that’s their hot potato -- not ours,“ said Gallo. ”My Daddy always told me not to go looking for trouble because it would find me soon enough.“

Councilman Harold Byrd agreed with Barneby and exhibited a desire to keep the long-standing custom within Bradenton city limits.

”I don’t think it’s a problem to advocate having the distinguished citizens in Bradenton,“ he said.  ”We would prefer they be placed where they were before, but the Riverwalk is also a great idea.“