Regional Spotlight: Dr. Jimmy Huger
Volusia County Chairman Frank Bruno Honors Dr. Jimmy Huger
The history of Central Florida is full of individuals, organizations and events that have been important in shaping the character and unique history of our region.
Some are well known to everyone in the region, while others are “hidden treasures” that are well known to those in a particular part of the region, but unfamiliar to many others.
As part of the myregion.org web site, we look to shine the regional spotlight on some of the treasures of Central Florida.
One such example is Dr. James “Jimmy” Huger from Volusia County.
As part of the Volusia County State of the County Address on January 22, 2008, Volusia County Chairman Frank Bruno recognized Dr. Huger for his lifetime of achievement in serving as a pioneer leader in Volusia County.
Below are excerpts from Chairman Bruno’s remarks highlighting Dr. Huger’s distinguished career:
It’s my distinct honor and privilege to recognize my longtime friend, adviser and mentor… Dr. James “Jimmy” Huger. I believe I can safely say there’s no one living in Volusia County today who has made any bigger difference in our community than Jimmy Huger. I have Jimmy’s permission to give his age. He’s 93. And he’s still going strong. He, and his lovely wife, Phanye, have been married for 67 years.
It’s hard to be brief when you talk about Jimmy Huger’s more than 40 years of contributions to Volusia County. As a young boy in Daytona Beach, he was shaped and guided by the inspiring Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. Dr. Bethune instilled her strength, courage, wisdom and leadership ability into the heart and soul of Jimmy Huger.
During the tumultuous and difficult days of racial change in our community and in our great county, Jimmy Huger forcefully, but peacefully, worked toward equality and harmony. A fraternity brother of the great Martin Luther King Jr., Jimmy played a key role in the national civil rights movement.
Jimmy was the first African-American to serve on the Volusia County Council, holding office from 1973 to 1978 and serving as chairman in 1975 and 1978.
He represented the City of Daytona Beach as a commissioner from 1965 to 1971 and he served as the city’s community development director from 1976 to 1994.
He was a longtime business manager at Bethune-Cookman College.
As a peaceful crusader for civil rights, Jimmy was the first African-American to play on the Daytona Beach Municipal Golf Course and was one of the first African-American officers in the U.S. Marine Corps.
He is a founder and past president of the National Community Development Association and the Florida Community Development Association, which advocate for community and economic development funding and programs.
He is a former president of the Stewart-Marchman Center, Rape Crisis Center of Volusia County, Association for Retarded Citizens and Halifax Associates.
Jimmy, on behalf of my colleagues on the Volusia County Council and all of the citizens of Volusia County, past and present, I want to sincerely thank you and honor you for a lifetime of significant contributions to Volusia County. You’ve had a positive influence on the lives of so many people.
In your honor, I would like to ask you to help me uncover this tribute to you.
Jimmy this plaque in your honor will be a permanent fixture in our brand new Ocean Center so residents and visitors for years to come will know your legacy and all that you’ve done for our community.