ARTS

Meet the 2024 inductees to the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame

Canter Brown Jr., a Fort Meade native, is a retired history professor. The author or co-author of 13 books on the history of Florida and the southern United States, Brown produced a two-volume history of Polk County. He'll be inducted into the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame on Oct. 15.
Canter Brown Jr., a Fort Meade native, is a retired history professor. The author or co-author of 13 books on the history of Florida and the southern United States, Brown produced a two-volume history of Polk County. He'll be inducted into the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame on Oct. 15.
Ernst Peters/The Ledger 2018
In a 40-year career with Polk County Public Schools, Frank Frank Howes served as band director at Southwest Middle, principal at Harrison School for the Arts and director of fine arts for the district. He'll be inducted into the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame on Oct. 15.
In a 40-year career with Polk County Public Schools, Frank Frank Howes served as band director at Southwest Middle, principal at Harrison School for the Arts and director of fine arts for the district. He'll be inducted into the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame on Oct. 15.
Ledger Archive 2003
Winter Haven native Jim Stafford emerged with a group of Polk County musicians that included famed country songwriter Bobby Braddock and the late Gram Parsons. His 1970s song "Spiders and Snakes" reached No. 3 on the Billboard singles chart. He even hosted his own network TV program in 1975. He'll be inducted into the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame on Oct. 15.
Winter Haven native Jim Stafford emerged with a group of Polk County musicians that included famed country songwriter Bobby Braddock and the late Gram Parsons. His 1970s song "Spiders and Snakes" reached No. 3 on the Billboard singles chart. He even hosted his own network TV program in 1975. He'll be inducted into the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame on Oct. 15.
Ledger Archive 2014
Myrtice Young has been the preservation manager at the Polk History Center in Bartow since 2010. She has reorganized the Polk County Historical Commission, spearheaded the Polk Historical Marker Program and worked with Polk County’s Planning Division to establish the Historical Preservation Ordinance. She'll be inducted Oct. 15 into the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame.
Myrtice Young has been the preservation manager at the Polk History Center in Bartow since 2010. She has reorganized the Polk County Historical Commission, spearheaded the Polk Historical Marker Program and worked with Polk County’s Planning Division to establish the Historical Preservation Ordinance. She'll be inducted Oct. 15 into the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame.
Ledger Archive 2018
Jesse Owens directs the Westwood Middle School Chorus in 2010. Owens, a music director for more than 50 years, retired as choral director from Polk County Public Schools after 42 years. She founded the Dr. J. Owens Academy of Fine Arts in 2012. She'll be inducted Oct. 15 into the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame.
Jesse Owens directs the Westwood Middle School Chorus in 2010. Owens, a music director for more than 50 years, retired as choral director from Polk County Public Schools after 42 years. She founded the Dr. J. Owens Academy of Fine Arts in 2012. She'll be inducted Oct. 15 into the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame.
Ledger Archive 2010