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Festival Job Is 'A Dream Come True'

Tribune photo by GEORGE H. NEWMAN

“All the things that have made the festival a big success are still in place,” says Paul Davis, the new general manager.

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

gnewman@tampatrib.com

Published: February 25, 2009

PLANT CITY - Few people are fortunate enough to be living out their dreams while working in a position that they love.

Such was the destiny of Paul Davis, the new general manager of the Florida Strawberry Festival. Davis, who retired after 32 years with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, said the job offer by the festival directors was too good to pass up.

"Some of my earliest childhood memories are about the Florida Strawberry Festival," Davis said. "It's a dream come true to be working here as manager. I have been in the people business for 32 years. Having the opportunity to continue working in this community is very satisfying for me."

Davis started Dec. 1.

He replaced Patsy Brooks, who retired June 2 after about 13 years as general manager. Brooks had been a festival employee since 1975.

Davis, 53, was born in Tampa and raised in Dover, off Gallagher Road. He attended school at Cork Elementary, Tomlin Junior High, Plant City High, Hillsborough Community College, the University of South of Florida and received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice at St. Leo University in 2005.

"After high school, my education was spread out over a long period of time," Davis said. "Working, married with children and going to college is a handful."

Davis has been married for 30 years to the former Sheryl Yates. They have three children: Jeremy, 29, who is a detective with the sheriff's office; Ashley Galloway, 24; and their youngest daughter, Morgan, a senior at Plant City High School. Jeremy and his wife, Tabitha, have two children, Madison, 5, and Logan, 3.

Davis retired from the sheriff's office after reaching the rank of colonel.

"As a sheriff's office employee, I worked security at the festival for 30 years," Davis said. "We were paid by the festival and would take vacation from the county during the festival time. I also worked security during presidential visits, two Super Bowls, Gasparilla, and many events at Tampa Stadium and Raymond James Stadium. In the later part of my career, I was heading up a large security force at all of those events."

During the past five years, Davis worked without pay as the head of inside security at the Strawberry Festival.

Festival association President Gary Boothe said Davis was hired after a national search.

"We had 31 applicants from people with varying degrees of fair and fair managerial experience," Boothe said. "It really was a difficult decision. Many of the applicants had impressive resumes. But in choosing Paul, we chose a hard worker with excellent contacts and a true love for the community."

Festival director Mike Sparkman said Davis is a quick learner.

"Paul started right in the thick of our busy season," Sparkman said. "He has worked hard to strengthen his staff while we are gearing up for the 2009 festival. Paul's involvement will help make this a successful event."

Davis said he is proud to be a part of the festival as general manager. "But above all, it's a team effort. All the things that have made the festival a big success are still in place. We have a great staff, an army of volunteers that work hard every year to make it all possible, and a volunteer board of directors that continues to make the Florida Strawberry Festival recognized as one of the best fairs in the country, year after year."

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451.

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