Distinguished Civilian Award Dinner

Honoring

Marilyn Smith-Mooney

Long Tenured Board Member, Immediate Past President, Former City Mayor

Date: September 30, 2021

Time: 5:30 pm-9:00 pm

Location: Bayfront Center, 750 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda, Fl. 33950

Marilyn Smith-Mooney joined the Museum’s board of directors and became its president in 2007, a position she held for more than five years. She continued as a member of the Museum’s board and, in 2017, again served as Museum board president and led the organization’s relocation and expansion to its new 17,000 sf current location at 900 W. Marion Ave. In addition to her service with the Military Heritage Museum, Marilyn held the Punta Gorda City Council’s District #2 seat from November 1996 through October 2008 and served two terms as mayor (2001 - 2003) – the city’s first female mayor since the city’s founding in 1887. Prior to that, she served two terms as vice mayor. Her community service involved several other nonprofit organizations including Executive Director/Vice Chair of the Tetrault Family Foundation Board from 2008 to 2014 (nonprofit funding arm for the Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens), after which she became the Executive Administrator (2014 to 2016) and eventually board member of the nonprofit Peace River Botanical and Sculpture Gardens (2016 to present). She was selected by the Punta Gorda Rotary Foundation in 2017 for its highest honor – “Service Above Self" and in 2019, was inducted into the Punta Gorda History Center's "Hall of Honor." Additionally, she serves as an appointed Florida Supreme Court Certified County Mediator for the 20th Judicial Circuit (2011 to present). During her early years on the City Council, Florida Weekly selected her as one of Charlotte County’s “Steel Magnolias” and the Charlotte Sun named her as one of “the county’s most influential, involved, charitable, powerful and important people.”

In honor of Marilyn Smith-Mooney’s unwavering support and leadership to the Military Heritage Museum and the City of Punta Gorda, Marilyn will be honored with the Museum’s first Distinguished Civilian Award.

The Dinner’s Flavors of Punta Gorda theme features catering provided by several of Punta Gorda’s outstanding restaurants and Dinner Sponsors: Hurricane Charley’s, River City Grill, Laishley Crab House and FM Don’s

Bar Sponsor: Four Points by Sheraton Entertainment: Mike Riley and the BoogieMen