old downtown
  Groveland Historical Society  
                 a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

Preserving
Our Past
for the
Future 
 

February
2010
*  Groveland's historic football memories.
*  New CD! New DVD!
*  Black History speaker & other programs.
*  History mystery update.
*  2 Important milestones. youtube
*  And more!

Groveland Has Proud Football Legacy 
buck new  demps jersey 
conference champs 
Groveland has been home to a host of football heroes, from Hall of Fame Coach Shaw Buck, (top left) who was himself a standout football and baseball player, to Jeff Demps, (his jersey is top right) a South Lake High alum and UF running back and track star who holds a national running record. No one who played on the 1957-1958 football team (bottom photo) will forget how they had an undefeated season and were conference champs.
 
So how is your Groveland football knowledge? See if you can answer these questions, and then >> CLICK HERE to find more information and the answers.
1.  Who was known to be so talented he could punt a football and have it land within a couple of feet of a target?
2.  Who played for four NFL teams -- the Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers.
3.  Who was the fastest member of the Florida State Seminoles when he played there?
4.  Who was one of the few players in history to play for Florida State and the University of Florida?
5.  When was Groveland's football team the state runner-up in Division C?
6.  In 1982, the first year UCF entered Division II, its first football scholarship went to Groveland High's starting quarterback. Who was he?
7.  What Groveland High teacher was also a Hall of Fame football star at the University of Southern Mississippi?

>>READ Tommy "Hunky" Leathers' memories about playing football at GHS.

Breaking News!
demps and turner
GHS Class of '76 Alumni Tony Turner, (right) who was Jeff Demps' (left) Pop Warner Coach, said the UF running back is planning to lend the jersey he wore when the Gators won a National Championship to the Groveland Historical Museum. We're working on having Jeff and Tony come to the museum for the presentation. Stay tuned for more details!
Demps and Turner are pictured above after the BCS National Championship Game in Miami on Jan. 8, 2009.
Milestones to Remember
first meeting
From left to right, Rick and Ellen Thompson (front row); Doris Bloodsworth and Louise Sloan (middle row); and Kathi Keaton Borok and Jack Speer (back row). Photo by Neal Thompson.
Happy 3rd birthday! In January 2007, this group met at Perkins Restaurant to talk about the possibility of starting a historical museum in Groveland. The same month, the Groveland City Council approved forming a partnership and granting the newly formed Groveland Historical Society permission to use the Puryear Annex for the museum. Thanks to all who have donated their time, money and moral support to making the museum a success.

senior wedding
youtube CLICK to view part 1.  CLICK to view part 2.
Betty Lou Feasel (front left) and her husband of 65 years, Urban (front right), renew their wedding vows as part of the February program at the James L. Wyche Senior Center.
The museum is only one of the Groveland Historical Society's efforts to celebrate history. The first Monday of every month, Mary Helen Myers leads entertaining, educational programs at the James L. Wyche Senior Center. In February, one of the couples renewed their vows after the minister of First Baptist Church gave a presentation on the history of the church. The ceremony was a surprise to the seniors. The Feasels' children surprised their parents with a cake and other refreshments at a reception following the event.
New Cecil Gray Middle School
gray middle
Pictured above is the new, three-story Cecil Gray Middle School main building. The school board is working on a plaque that will show a photo of the 1937 Groveland High building and will include a brief history of the school and Davis Elementary.

Groveland book

Images of America: GROVELAND makes a wonderful gift for family, co-workers, clients, pastors, and teachers.

To order and pay by credit card or check, >>CLICK HERE or go to www.GrovelandHistory.org.
$23.53 = pick up at the Groveland Museum.
$26.94 = mail out of state.
$28.37 = mail within Florida.

Join Our Mailing List
We need more docents
south








Please help us staff the museum for two hours on a Saturday of your choice. It's fun and educational.

To find out more, call Marie Padgett at 352-429-4318.

Historically Yours  

Memories Captured
on New CD & DVD
 lookin back cd
CD
azalea bowl dvd Azalea Bowl '67 DVD

The historical society has two exciting treasures to share -- a new CD of 12 songs from Jack Speer and a DVD of the 1967 Azalea Bowl Game, which includes clips of the game, the cheerleaders, and the half-time show.
Both will be available when Jack performs some of the songs from the new CD on Feb. 27 at the Lake David Center. Also performing will be Jukebox, a doo wop singing group. Show starts at 11 AM.
 
LOOKIN' BACK CD
>> MORE about the CD and how to order.  >> Listen to "Here on the Beach in Panama." (takes time to download.)
 
AZALEA BOWL DVD
>>CLICK HERE to read Tommy Leathers' review and to find out how to order.
 
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YIKES!
Friends of the Marion Baysinger Memorial Library have asked us to alert those who care about this historic Groveland treasure that the library is one of two that the county is considering eliminating due to budget problems. The Groveland Woman's Club started the library in 1928 and operated it for decades until the county took it over. For more information on how you can help, contact Cylian Law: cyjac@cfl.rr.com.

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Groveland Historical Society Wins Award for Top Volunteer Group
The South Lake Chamber of Commerce named the Groveland Historical Society as the top volunteer organization in January.
gem of the hills award
From left to right accepting the award are Doris Bloodsworth, Kemp Smith and Marie Padgett.

2010 HISTORY SERIES
history patch 
The Groveland Historical Museum is sponsoring outstanding programs. Below are brief descriptions. Go to www.GrovelandHistory.org for more details.
FEB.20-- Daniel Keel: The Tuskegee Airmen.
FEB. 27 -- Jukebox, a popular doo wop singing group, entertains with 1950s-60s music and Jack Speer performing songs from Lookin' Back.
MAR. 6 -- Clayton Bishop: The Real Florida? a postcard history.
MAR. 13 -- Steve Rajtar: Historical Trails of Groveland-Mascotte and Lake County. Especially interesting for Scouts.
MAR. 27 -- Bob Grenier: will discuss Civil War soldier and Florida pioneer Capt. Melton Haynes.
  
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GHS REUNION
The Annual GHS Alumni Reunion will be held on Saturday, March 20. If you didn't receive your letter or registration form, >>CLICK HERE.

ghs

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HISTORY MYSTERY
UPDATE
In the last newsletter, we asked for your help in trying to solve the mystery of what happened to a 1929 Groveland marshal who was murdered. Since then, we learned that a Leesburg newspaper said Marshal Robert Smithwick was buried in Clermont, although he is not listed on the city's main cemetery roster. We are still investigating and will keep you posted.

Giving Tree
 Honors Donors
The Groveland Historical Museum honors donors with a laminated orange inscribed with their name on a wall-size tree at the museum entrance.
You can mail donations to:
Groveland Historical Society, P.O. Box 761, Groveland, FL 34736.
Suggested donations:
$25 = single
$50 = family
$100 = business
Quick Links
 
GHS Alumni Web site
If you wish to view the GHS Web site, and haven't joined already, contact Deborah Whitmore Hicks at  WSAdmin@myfamily.com, and she will help you register.