Moments in time

1985
Two French Olympic gymnastics team members, Joel Suty and Martha Roberta, highlighted the Gymnastics Jamboree at the Boys Club June 21, 1985. The Boys Club regular staff also assisted about 350 children, ages 4 to 14, who tried out nine different gymnastics events in the packed main gymnasium.

The two Olympians came on a day’s notice from Sea World, where they were performing a gymnastics act. Suty represented France in the 1980 and 1984 Olympics. He placed ninth overall on the parallel bars and pommel horse in the 1984 Olympics.
— June 27, 1985, Observer archives

1995
A six-year-old offer came to fruition in June 1995, according to the Observer archives. The City Commission approved Jack Graham Inc.’s plans, for a $200,000 fountain to be placed on Island Park.

The fountain, marking Jack Graham’s more than 25 years of operation at Marina Jack, was described as “a gift to the people of the city.” Steve Dickey, a Ringling College of Art and Design graduate, designed the 40 feet in diameter fountain. Dickey also created the Martin Luther King bust, which sits at Cocoanut Avenue and Martin Luther King Way, and completed the bronze work in Ken Thompson Park.

Lee Sullivan, of Jack Graham Inc., said in a letter to commissioners, “It is notable that this project is being accomplished entirely by members of the Sarasota community; a local representative of Delta Foundation arranged for the fountain construction; and the sculpture is being created by a graduate of the Ringling School of Art and Design. The actual manufacturing of the sculptures took place in foundry located in Sarasota.”
— June 22, 1995, Observer archives