Zoie Campbell - She was the founder of the Fort Walton Beach Art Museum and started the annual “Mile of Pennies” free art classes for children. She organized and exhibited at the Artisan Gallery, as well as teaching at OWCC and at the Creative Senior Center. Inducted posthumously in 1999.
Willie Mae Taylor - She helped found the Destin Library in 1940 and chaired the Friends of Destin Library Board. She began as a pioneering volunteer with the Destin Post Office and worked there for 29 years, supported and collected artifacts for the Destin Fishing Museum and was instrumental in its formation. She helped establish the Destin Community Center and was active with the PTA, Destin Senior Citizens and Eastern Star. B. 1914 – d. 1999 Inducted posthumously in 1999.
Jane Briere - Manager of the UWF Small Business Development Center. Organizes the Women In Business Seminar. Teaches SDBC classes as a business consultant to hundreds of men and women in Okaloosa County. Holds two annual Women’s Entrepreneur Networking Events. 1999 Contemporary Inductee.
Grace Brown - She served on Fort Walton Beach’s Municipal Planning Board; chaired the Okaloosa County Environmental Committee, & the Sesquicentennial Committee for 150 years of Florida history; led the Kids Voting program & the American Heart Association’s Smoke Free Class Year 2000. Grace is the coordinator for the Aqua Lab, testing water quality at 22 locations monthly and serves as State FFWC Beautification Chairman.” She speaks several languages & has taught English in a number of foreign countries. 1999 Pioneer Inductee.
Nancy Kenaston (1920- ) She was a court reporter during the Nuremberg war-crimes trials after World War II and worked as a journalist & managing editor of Playground Daily News. She was Public Relations Director for Okaloosa’s school system for 23 years. She wrote a history for the school district and also The Rich Heritage of Fort Walton Beach & the Communities of the Emerald Coast. Nancy was a Coast Guard Boating Safety instructor and was president & chaired the Board of the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society. Legislative Assistant to Jerry Melvin in 1972 and in 1994. 1999 Pioneer Inductee.
Dr Mabel Jean Morrison - She was an educator for 45 years, 29 of which were spent as Assistant Superintendent for Okaloosa County; was president of the Florida Association for Childhood Education. She co-authored History, Florida Southern Association of Colleges & Schools. She received the FSU College of Education’s Distinguished Graduate Award. Pioneered many educational programs and led the way for women in this community. Still serves as a mentor. b. 1927 - 1999 Pioneer Inductee.
Carolyn Spencer - Inducted in 1999 with a special humanitarian award, named in her honor, for her work with battered and victimized women. Active with Shelter House and a delegate to the Governor’s Summit Against Domestic Violence. She is “on call” 24-hours-a-day as a member of the Sexual Trauma Team and served as a Crisis Line volunteer.