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PROCLAMATION ED
<br /> HONORING VICTOR HART, SR.
<br /> WHEREAS, Victor Hart, Sr., known to many as "Chief', was bom and raised in the Bahamas, immigrating to the
<br /> United States at the age of 21 under a labor agreement between both governments;and
<br /> WHEREAS, Victor Hart, Sr., brought up with a sense of integrity and high moral principle, inherited the innate
<br /> ability to organize people for action, becoming a visionary and social activist/leader;and
<br /> WHEREAS, Victor Hart, Sr., recognized social injustices in the Gifford Community and, in 1953, in collaboration
<br /> with other Gifford citizens organized and founded the Gifford Progressive Civic League, whose mission addressed the
<br /> inadequate provision of social services and infrastructure such as roads,water and sewage, and street lights; and
<br /> WHEREAS, Victor Hart, Sr., met with leaders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
<br /> (NAACP) in 1953, and subsequently founded the Indian River County Branch to further the social justice for the Gifford
<br /> Community and Indian River County;and
<br /> WHEREAS, Victor Hart, Sr., became an American citizen in April, 1961, starting his nearly 46 year presidency of
<br /> the Indian River Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, where he earned the
<br /> organization's highest leadership award, the T. H. Poole, Sr. Service Award in June, 1996;and
<br /> WHEREAS, Victor Hart, Sr., joined the brotherhood of the Gifford Masonic Lodge #347 in 1953 and served as
<br /> Worshipful Master for more than 40 years until his retirement in 2007; and
<br /> WHEREAS, Victor Hart, Sr. dedicated more than 55 years of his life to causes to better humanity, through his
<br /> faith and determination to ensure equal justice for all people, and as witnessed in his selfless service on numerous boards
<br /> from Gifford, Florida, to Washington, D.C., including service as Chairman of the Gifford Health Center, as a member of
<br /> the Board of Directors for the Gifford Youth Activity Center and Florida Partnership for End of Life Care, as a member of
<br /> the Juvenile Justice Council, the Economic Development Council, the Primary Care Public Health Committee, and the
<br /> Community Development Block Grant Citizen Advisory Task Force;and
<br /> WHEREAS, Victor Hart, Sr., facilitated the opening of over a dozen facilities across the State of Florida through
<br /> his service on the Board of Directors of the Florida Community Health Center, providing low-income and disadvantaged
<br /> citizens with health care services; and
<br /> WHEREAS, Victor Hart, Sr., a long-time member of the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, continues to serve
<br /> his community as.Deacon;and
<br /> WHEREAS, Victor Hart, Sr., is the proud father of 11 children, 37 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and four
<br /> great-great grandchildren which were the product of his marriage of nearly 40 years with Valareese Young Hart.
<br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN
<br /> RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Proclamation recognizes the extensive humanitarian and civic contributions made
<br /> to the community and the country by Victor Hart, Sr.
<br /> Duly adopted this 215'day of February, 2017. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,
<br /> INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA
<br /> Joseph E. Flescher, Chairman
<br /> Peter D. O'Bryan, Vice Chairman
<br /> Susan Adams
<br /> Bob Solari
<br /> ILTim Zorc
<br /> P4
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