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City Employee Eddie C. Brooks Retires

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 18, 2008

PLANT CITY - Every year at annual employee luncheons, Eddie C. Brooks received standing ovations from his peers for his longevity as a city recreation department employee.

Now, after 46 years as a city worker, Brooks has taken his final standing-O. He is retiring from his job as supervisor, opting for the peace and tranquillity to be found at his Plant City home.

The city helped Brooks celebrate his retirement and his 70th birthday when it honored him June 5 at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, where he spent his career.

Many of the recreation and parks department employees were on hand to salute their comrade. City officials, including Commissioner Mary Yvette Thomas Mathis, City Manager David Sollenberger, Finance Director Martin Wisgerhof, Community Services Director Jim McDaniel and Recreation and Parks Department Director Jack Holland, were also there to pay tribute to Brooks.

"Eddie Brooks is a well-respected role model for many of the youngsters who have passed through the city recreation center," Holland said. "He has been a strong proponent of recreation throughout his life and career in the city."

Holland said Brooks was instrumental in the creation of the girls' softball league that competed at the recreation center at 1601 E. Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Blvd. for many years.
Sollenberger has known Brooks since he arrived in the city in 2000.

"Eddie is first of all a great guy," Sollenberger said. "Anyone who has worked that long for the city has to be a dedicated city servant. I wanted to be a part of his farewell celebration."

Ivan Brooks, a cousin to Eddie who also works at the recreation center, said, "Serving his community has become his life. A person can only hope to be like him.

"Anything good you can say about a person you can say about Eddie C.," Ivan Brooks said. "When a community loses a person who has been so active and dedicated to the cause, like Eddie C., then you find a void that is hard to fill.

"We all need to pick up the slack to honor his legacy and carry on his dedicated tradition in recreation and hard work."

Sanders Bush, the city human resources director, said that Brooks, who was hired Nov. 10, 1961, has to rank as one of the longest-tenured city employees ever. The record for longevity is almost certainly held by the late Nettie Draughon, who started as a secretary and rose through the ranks to city manager during 57 years with the city. She retired Dec. 31, 1997.

Roger Gilmore, a storm water department worker with 37 years on the job, is the next in seniority among active city employees, Bush said.

Brooks has an excellent work history, Bush said. "He has always been a reliable and dedicated worker. He has been the face of the MLK Recreation Center formerly known as the Haines Street Recreation Center for as long as it has been in operation."

Friends of Brooks say he was most passionate about the success of the Dragonettes, his girls' softball team, which represented the city and its recreation center for many years.

The girls' travel team toured the state, wearing blue and gold, the colors of Brooks' alma mater, Marshall High School.

Sharon Moody, the director of the Boys & Girls Clubs in Plant City, remembers Brooks when she was growing up.

"When I was a kid I remember meeting Eddie C. at the MLK Rec Center," Moody said. "He loved all the children. And he always kept us interested in sports.

"Before integration, when Marshal High School was the black high school in town, Eddy C. organized the girls' softball team. Marshall's mascot was the Dragons. His recreation center team was the Dragonettes. They were good. And Eddie C. had them playing all the time."

Moody has many fond memories of Brooks.

"His legacy will go on. We all appreciate what he did while he was there all those years. Now, when I go over to the MLK Center, I know that I will miss seeing him there. He gave us so much."

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib.com.

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