IRSC Mueller Campus Hosts "100 Years of Vero History" Panel on October 2

September 20, 2019 Robert lane

As the City of Vero Beach centennial celebration culminates this October, Indian River State College (IRSC) invites the community to attend a special Vero Beach Centennial Celebration panel discussion, “100 Years of Vero History” on Wednesday, October 2, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Richardson Center on the IRSC Mueller Campus in Vero Beach.

Free and open to the public, the evening will offer unique insight and local lore from a panel of community champions: Larry Lawson, Alma Lee Loy, Ruth Stanbridge, and Tony Young—moderated by Casey Lunceford, IRSC Indian River County Provost.

A respected historian, Ruth Stanbridge established a small historical and environmental research and grant-writing firm. Appointed by the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners in 1997, she continues to serve as the County Historian. In 1998, Stanbridge was elected County Commissioner from District 2—serving as Chairman of the Board before her term ended in 2002. Stanbridge has been a consulting historian for several PBS films including “River into the New World—the St. Johns River” and “Feather Wars, a Story of Paul Kroegel and Pelican Island.” The Indian River County Historical Society, Inc. recently selected Stanbridge to serve as president.

Vero Beach native Alma Lee Loy brings a wealth of local knowledge to the panel. Loy graduated from Vero Beach High School in 1947 and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and minor in economics from the University of Miami in 1952. Upon graduation and returning to her hometown, Loy was employed by the Press Journal from 1952 to 1955 before opening Alma Lee’s Children’s Clothing Center with Lucy Auxier in 1955. After operating the popular shop for 42 years, Loy retired and devoted her life to philanthropy and volunteerism in Vero Beach and Indian River County. Loy has been a member of First Baptist Church since 1936, is associated with Indian River County Chamber Of Commerce, Mckee Botanical Garden, Indian River Land Trust, IRSC College Foundation, Indian River Community Foundation, City of Vero Beach Centennial Committee, Gifford Youth Orchestra among many others.

Panelist Tony Young is the grandson of Vero’s first mayor: A. W. Young, and he serves as Vice Mayor of Vero Beach. He is a retired Army Medical Service Colonel and a 30-year combat veteran. Young works alongside Tammy Bursick as co-chairs of the City of Vero Beach Centennial Committee. Local history is Young’s passion, and he lives in his childhood home in the historic McAnsh Park neighborhood.

Panel member Larry Lawson has a distinguished law enforcement career spanning 40 years, and additionally served as Director of Training for the IRSC Police Academy for 18 years. Today, Lawson is the Historical Ghost Tours and Paranormal Events host, Director of the Florida Bureau of Paranormal Investigations and proprietor of Indian River Hauntings, LLC.

For more information on the “100 Years of Vero History” panel discussion at the IRSC Mueller Campus, contact Eileen Kelley at 772-217-1896.