Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame Class 2023

The Hall of Fame Induction ceremony is the crowning event of this year’s Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame Gala sponsored by CORE Wealth Advisors. This year’s class features six individuals who have all made their mark on Polk County and beyond. The Gala, which kicks off at 6pm with a social hour on October 17 at Bonnet Springs Park, is sold out.

Created in 2014 to recognize the lifetime achievements of Polk’s arts and cultural icons, the Hall of Fame currently has eight members but will nearly double with this year’s class. “We likely won’t induct six members every year,” said Dr. Daryl Ward, the Executive Director of PACA, “but due to COVID and other logistics, we’re playing a bit of catch-up.”

This year’s group includes two “Cultural Champions” in addition to four artists – two of which have already been inducted into national halls of fame. Bobby Braddock, from Auburndale, is an accomplished songwriter and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, while Nat Adderley, a legendary jazz trumpeter, is in the Jazz Hall of Fame. The rest of the Class of 2023 have all made significant contributions to Polk’s arts and cultural communities. In addition to Adderley and Braddock, also being inducted this year are: Clifton Lewis (Bartow), Milford Myhre (Lake Wales), Rick Olivo (Lakeland), and Harriet Rust (Davenport). Cindy Rodriguez, a PACA board member, and member of the Hall of Fame selection committee noted that the list of worthy candidates is long. “It’s inspirational to see how many talented folks across so many artistic genres have very specific ties to Polk, and it was a happy dilemma to have so many deserving nominees from which to select our 2023 Polk Artists Hall of Fame inductees,” Rodriguez said.

Clifton Lewis, who moved to Bartow in 1989, was instrumental in saving the historic L.B. Brown House in Bartow from demolition. He formed the Neighborhood Improvement Corporation to develop Bartow neighborhoods, and to champion the preservation of the historic home. The L.B. Brown House was designed and constructed in 1892 by Lawrence Bernard Brown who was born into slavery in 1856 and had limited formal education. He overcame those limitations and became one of Polk County’s most successful businessmen and community leaders. Lewis and his team recognized the significance of saving the structure and even worked to get it exhibited in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

Milford Myhre, a long-time Lake Wales resident, was the carillonneur of Bok Tower Gardens for 36 years, until his retirement in 2004. During that time, he played daily concerts at the tower, greeted thousands of visitors to the area, hosted world-renowned composers, established the first International Carillon Festival and the Music at Pinewood concert series. He is also a founding board member of the Lake Wales Arts Council, the Lake Wales Museum Commission, and founder and director of the Lake Wales Chorale. He continues to volunteer for the Lake Wales Arts Center and attends and promotes arts events around Lake Wales.

Rick Olivo, who moved to Polk County from New York and passed away in 2022, has long been recognized as one of Lakeland’s art icons. He founded Pied Pipers Children’s Theater (Lakeland Community Theatre) and was also one of the founding members of Explorations V Children’s Museum (Florida Children’s Museum) where his giant dragon remains on display. Olivo completed numerous other art projects, including the creation of the swan prototypes for Exploration V Children’s Museum (Florida Children’s Museum) public sculpture project, “Swansation,” which celebrated Lakeland’s famous swans. He also taught in many area schools, particularly Rochelle School of the Arts and spent time teaching art to the neediest of populations in Polk County’s migrant camps.

Harriet Rust, a Polk County native, founded the Davenport Historical Society with then-Mayor Peter Rust (her late husband). The DHS founded the Quilts and Tea Festival that brought together the Davenport School of the Arts, many sewing organizations, local churches, and even visitors from Africa to participate in the artisan event. In addition, DHS also supported the Plein Air initiative that has expanded throughout the county. She and her late husband pioneered the Highwaymen Arts Festival that began in Davenport in 2011 and continues to this day. She also worked closely with Myrtice Young at the Polk History Center to start the Citrus Label Tour.

Bobby Braddock, who left Auburndale for Nashville as a young adult, gained notoriety for writing such country music classics as “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” performed by Tammy Wynette and the song, “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” popularized by George Jones. Additionally, Braddock was instrumental in launching the careers of many country music artists, most notably with his discovery of Blake Shelton.

Jazz icon, Nat Adderley made Lakeland his home in the eighties and is credited with being a founding member of Florida Southern College’s Child of the Sun Jazz Festival, eventually serving as Artist-In-Residence for the school. Adderley, who passed away in 2000, penned the jazz classic, “Work Song” and was frequently partnered with his legendary brother, Cannonball Adderley in numerous jazz bands.

The inductees will be recognized at the inaugural Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame Gala at Bonnet Springs Park on October 17. The event, sponsored by CORE Wealth Advisors, is sold out.