Item L06* 9:10 A.M. TIME APPROXIMATE*
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: 9/16/2015 - KL Department: District 5
Bulk Item: Yes No X
Staff Contact: Commissioner Sylvia Murphy 453-8787
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of a resolution designating the second Monday in October
of each year as "Sir Lancelot Jones Day".
ITEM BACKGROUND: This resolution designates the second Monday in October of each year as
"Sir Lancelot Jones Day" to commemorate his lifelong conservation and education efforts towards the
preservation of Biscayne Bay which greatly contributed to the establishment of Biscayne National Park.
Sir Lancelot Jones was born in 1898 into an African American pioneer family that made its
home on Porgy Key in what is now Biscayne National Park. Sir Lancelot Jones lived most of his 99
years on the tiny island of Porgy Key, one of a handful of little islands that lie in a disconnected string
between Elliott Key and Key Largo near the southern end of Biscayne, where he prospered growing
key limes, harvesting lobster and sponges and as an expert fishing guide who was sought out by five
presidents and numerous senators, influential industrialists and others wanting to experience the beauty
of Biscayne Bay wildlife.
In the 1960's, developers attempted to acquire the Jones' land but Jones believed the land
should be preserved for future generations, so in 1970 he sold all 277 acres to the National Park
Service with the caveat that he be allowed to remain on the island for the remainder of his life. Jones
remained on Porgy Key, sharing his naturalist wisdom with school children and visitors until 1992
when Hurricane Andrew forced his evacuation. On October 23, 2013, the Jones Family Historic
District located in Biscayne National Park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Given the adjacent ecosystems of southern Biscayne Bay and the northern Florida Keys, the
lifelong efforts of Sir Lancelot Jones to preserve this land for future generations have resulted in
significant economic, ecological and cultural contribution to the State and more specifically to Miami -
Dade and Monroe County. Without the resolve of Sir Lancelot Jones to preserving Biscayne Bay,
Biscayne National Park may not exist today.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: N/A
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Approval
TOTAL COST: N/A INDIRECT COST:
DIFFERENTIAL OF LOCAL PREFERENCE:
BUDGETED: Yes No
COST TO COUNTY: SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No X AMOUNT PER MONTH
APPROVED BY: County Atty ---"OMB/Purchasing Risk Management
DOCUMENTATION: Included X Not Required
DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM #
Year
Commissioner Murphy
RESOLUTION NO. - 2015
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA,
DESIGNATING THE SECOND MONDAY IN OCTOBER OF
EACH YEAR AS "SIR LANCELOT JONES DAY' IN
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA IN RECOGNITION OF HIS
LIFELONG CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION EFFORTS
TOWARD THE PRESERVATION OF BISCAYNE BAY
WHICH GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK.
WHEREAS, Sir Lancelot Garfield Jones was born in 1898 on a 22-foot boat "on the
waves of Biscayne Bay that would become his life", into an African -American pioneer family
that made its home on the southern portion of the Keys in what is now Biscayne National Park;
and
WHEREAS, Lancelot's father, Israel Lafayette "Parson" Jones, despite incredible
institutional and social barriers, became a successful landowner and farmer of key limes and
pineapples, purchasing Porgy Key in 1897 for $300, where he and his family built a home and
lived, and later purchasing Totten Key to expand their key lime production to become the largest
producer and distributor of keys limes in the state; and
WHEREAS, Sir Lancelot Jones lived most of his 99 years on the tiny island of Porgy
Key, one of a handful of little islands that lie in a disconnected string between Elliott Key and
Key Largo near the southern end of Biscayne Bay, where he prospered by growing key limes,
harvesting lobster and sponges and as an expert fishing guide sought out by five presidents and
numerous senators, influential industrialists, and others eager to experience the beauty of the
Biscayne Bay wildlife; and
WHEREAS, in the 1960's, developers were eager to acquire the Jones' land but Jones
believed the land should be preserved for future generations, so in 1970 he sold all 277 acres to
the National Park Service with the caveat that he be allowed to remain on the island for the
remainder of his life; and
WHEREAS, as the last surviving member of the Jones family, Sir Lancelot Jones spent
nearly his whole life on the island sharing his naturalist wisdom with visitors and school
children, particularly his love of sea sponges, and he remained on Porgy Key until 1992 when
Hurricane Andrew forced his evacuation from the land he loved; and
WHEREAS, on October 23, 2013, The Jones Family Historic District located in
Biscayne National Park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and now stands as
the most pristine, beautiful section of Biscayne National Park which was created to preserve and
protect area wildlife for the education, inspiration, recreation and enjoyment of present and
future generations; and
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Res Sir Lancelot Jones Day 80CC 9/16/15 (kp)
WHEREAS, given the adjacent ecosystems of southern Biscayne Bay and the northern
Florida Keys, the lifelong conservation and education efforts of Sir Lancelot Jones are of
significant importance to both Miami -Dade and Monroe County; and
WHEREAS, Biscayne National Park is home to a rare combination of terrestrial, marine,
and amphibious life in a tropical and subtropical setting of great natural beauty, which draws
approximately 525,000 visitors annually, contributes more than $44 million to the local
economy, and supports approximately 459 jobs in the local area; and
WHEREAS, the invaluable and inspiring efforts of Sir Lancelot Jones to preserve the
land he loved and to ensure that future generations would delight in its beauty and abundance,
have resulted in significant economic, ecological, and cultural contributions to the State, its
heritage, and its future and, without his resolve and unwavering conviction toward the
preservation of Biscayne Bay, Biscayne National Park may not exist today; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE
COUNTY, FLORIDA:
The second Monday in October of each year is hereby designated as "Sir
Lancelot Jones Day" in Monroe County, Florida to commemorate his
lifelong conservation and education efforts toward the preservation of
Biscayne Bay which greatly contributed to the establishment of Biscayne
National Park.
2. The Board encourages public officials, schools and citizens throughout
Monroe County to honor the legacy of Sir Lancelot Jones and his
invaluable and inspiring contributions to this County, to this State, and to
future generations.
3. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of said board held on the 161h day of September, 2015.
Mayor Danny L. Kolhage, District 1
Mayor Pro Tern Heather Carruthers, District 3
Commissioner George Neugent, District 2
Commissioner David Rice, District 4
Commissioner Sylvia Murphy, District 5
(Seal)
Attest: Amy Heavilin, Clerk BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
By:
Deputy Clerk
Res Sir Lancelot Jones Day BOCC 9/16/15 (kp)
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By:
Mayor Danny L. Kolhage
ROE COUNTY ATTORNEY
Page 2 of 2 APPRO
SHI NOER, JR.
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