Feb 17, 2010 4 min read

Fort Myers Beach resident Roxie Smith was recognized for all she does on Estero Island when she was selected to the 19th annual Paulette Burton Citizen of the Year Award for 2009. She received the award at the Lee County Board of County Commissioners meeting Tuesday morning.

“As far as I’m concerned, we are all winners,” said Smith. “The real joy for me has been working with all of you. You make it very rewarding. This has been probably the most difficult year in my life, but this award helps. It’s nice to do the work, but it’s nice to have somebody say ‘thank you’.”

This marks the second time this decade a Beach resident has picked up the citizen award. Fran Meyers, Smith’s good friend, won the 2001 citizen honor.

The annual award recognizes a Lee County citizen who has provided outstanding civic contributions to Lee County Government. The other three finalists were Samira Beckwith of Fort Myers, Mary Miller of North Fort Myers and George Szymanski of Lehigh Acres.

Smith, who has been a finalist for this award in the past, was nominated for the award by Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President John Albion., and D.J. Petrucelli, past president and executive director of the foundation. Selection criteria include a positive attitude; knowledgeable of the objectives and activities of county government; demonstrated interest in community/county government partnership; and the promotion of harmony between the community and county government.

“Roxie is very deserving of the award,” said Albion. “She’s been a giver to our community and all of Lee County for many years. It’s good that the Lee County Commission has recognized her for this well-deserved honor.”

The citizen award was created in 1991 to honor Mrs. Burton, a long-time Sanibel Island resident and government watch dog. She spent many years serving as a voice of the people to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners as well as playing an active role in Sanibel politics. She died in a 1991 car accident.

Smith’s long list of community, town and county participation includes director, treasurer, vice chair and chair of FMB Chamber Board of Directors; vice-president of FMB Chamber Foundation since 1985; founding member of ‘Build a Pool Committee;’ eight years on FMB Local Planning Agency; Historic Preservation Subcommittee member; Cultural and Environmental Learning Center Advisory Board member; past vice chair of Newton Park Committee; Lynn Hall Park Redevelopment and Advisory Committee; vice chair of Friends of Matanzas Pass Preserve; founder and board member of Estero Island Historic Society; board member of the Marine Institute; board member of the Main Street U.S.A. Committee; and director of the Spirit of the Holidays Committee

Other distinctions include serving 24 years on the Tourist Development Council (past vice chair); chairperson of the Superior Small Lodging Committee; 2007 Search Committee member for TDC executive director; member of the Lee County Coastal Advisory Committee and Business Leaders Advisory Group; founder and secretary of Horizon Council; first chair of FMB & Lee County CRA; appointed by BOCC to serve on several ‘search committees’ including Barbara B. Mann Hall Study Group; served on ‘Keep Lee county Beautiful Committee; founding board member of Uncommon Friends Foundation; serves on Edison/Ford Foundation

A 1986 graduate of Leadership Lee County and Lee Grows, Smith served on Southwest Florida Regional Hospital Advisory Group, Lee Memorial Health System and 2007 Community Health Vision Steering Committee. She has been a committee originator for FMB Relay For Life as well as a Community Emergency Response Team member. She helped form the local ‘Save The Manatee Chapter’; was appointed and re-appointed to Florida Commission on Tourism (co-chair); and served as co-chair of Visit Florida’s Cultural Heritage and Nature Tourism Development Committee.