Florida Tourism Hall of Fame honors contribution of Walter Fraser

Historic City News has learned that Senator Walter B. Fraser was posthumously inducted on Monday evening to the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame during the Chairman’s Dinner at the 46th Annual Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism at the Boca Raton Resort & Club.

Two of Fraser’s grandchildren, John Walter Fraser, current President of the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, and Elaine Fraser, owner of the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse in the USA, attended the ceremonies to accept the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame Award in Senator Fraser’s honor.

“My grandfather believed in empowering people with his passion — and he was passionate about Florida and the tourism industry,” said John Fraser during the celebration. “His work set in motion a change in direction that was preservation, research, and expansion. In his heart he felt it was more than just the Fountain of Youth. He built a foundation of stewardship and patience, and we continue to build on that foundation today.”

The Florida Tourism Hall of Fame, created in 2001, acknowledges contemporary and historic figures whose vision, creativity and drive have had a positive and significant impact on the development of Florida as a desirable visitor destination. One individual is chosen annually and announced during the Governor’s Conference. The award is presented on behalf of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors.

Earlier this year, St Augustine Lighthouse and Museum Executive Director Kathy A. Fleming, nominated Fraser to the Florida Department of State for the Mary Call Darby Collins Award. In March, Elaine traveled to Tallahassee to accept the award honoring her grandfather’s contributions to Historic Preservation.

“Thank you to Kathy Fleming, for nominating our grandfather,” Elaine Fraser told Historic City News editor Michael Gold this morning. “History, heritage and work in historic preservation, as well as tourism, are all a part of my grandfather’s legacy.”

In 1927 Walter B. Fraser purchased the estate of Dr. Luella McConnell; including the landmark property located on Magnolia Avenue that was developed as the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park. This initiated his active political and business career in St. Augustine.

During the 1930’s Fraser organized St. Augustine’s first formal restoration movement — Colonial St. Augustine, Inc.; the forerunner of the preservation program which became the Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board. From 1933-1943 Fraser served on the St. Augustine City Commission — the last seven of those years as mayor.

Throughout this era, research was undertaken, properties were acquired, and significant sites were developed for interpretation. Fraser purchased the Oldest Orange Grove and the Oldest School House. Fraser built WFOY radio and he served in the Florida Senate from 1944-1948. While in the Senate, he introduced bills that created the first tourism marketing initiatives for the state of Florida.

Past inductees into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame from St. Johns County include Frank and Betty Usina and Henry Flagler.