Resolution 272-2000
Board of County Commissioners
RESOLUTION NO. 272
-2000
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA COMMENDING KEVIN J. O'BRIEN FOR HIS
SERVICE AS DIRECTOR OF THE KEY WEST ART & HISTORICAL SOCIETY
WHEREAS, Kevin O'Brien is a professional museum director and artist with wide
experience in the administration of small and medium sized institutions; and
WHEREAS, as the executive director of the Key West Art & Historical Society, which runs
three important museum facilities in Monroe County, O'Brien engineered and supervised the
recent completion of the new Museum of Art & History at the Key West Custom House, which now
is the most modern museum facility in Monroe County; and
WHEREAS, when O'Brien took over as executive director of the Society in 1995, the $8.5
million restoration project for the 109-year-old historic Custom House had bogged down due to
problems with financing and construction delays, and O'Brien was able to work with the board of
directors, government and financial institutions to devise a plan to borrow against future
revenues to accelerate the project and bring it to completion long before otherwise possible; and
WHEREAS, O'Brien reorganized the Art & Historical Society staff, rallied the local community and
contributors and divested the organization of negative influences, to bring the Custom House
project to successful fruition; and
WHEREAS, the new museum opened its doors to the publiC in August 1999 with an
exquisite exhibition of French Impressionist prints along with an award winning historical exhibit
of the sinking of the USS Battleship Maine, hearings on which were held in the very room where
the exhibit was displayed now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY,
FLORIDA, that for Kevin J. O'Brien receive this commendation for his dedicated service to Monroe
County and its residents.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida,
at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 26th day of July, 2000.
Mayor Shirley Freeman
Commissioner Wilhelmina Harvey
missioner George Neugent
issioner Mary Kay Reich
sioner Nora Williams
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