Soto Honors Community Leaders for Black History Month

Josephine M. Howard

Josephine is a Servant Leader, Lifetime Member of the NAACP, has served as a member of the Horizon Housing Board, Treasurer, Former CEO of Howard's Apparel, Former Chaplain of the NC100BW, Board of Trustees, Heart of Florida Hospital, Head Start Policy Council and Who's Who among Professional Women. Click here for the full video.

Rev. Clifton E. Dollison

Rev. Dollison has served as the Past President/current Vice President at the NAACP-Winter Haven Branch, Senior Chaplin of the Winter Haven Police Department, President of the Interdenominational Ministerial Association of Polk County, Inc., Chairman of the Pastoral Development Conference for the Progressive Missionary & Educational Baptist State Convention of Florida, Inc, President of the Interfaith Ministerial Alliance of Winter Haven, Past 2nd Vice Moderator, First South Florida (FSF) Missionary Baptist District Association, and as the President and Past Educational Dean of the FSF Congress Number Three. Click here for the full video.

Michael D. Smith

Captain Michael D. Smith is an active member of Allen Temple AME Church where he serves as the president of Usher Board #1. He is also a member of Lake Wales branch NAACP, a Bethune Cookman Alumni, a member of the Polk County Professional Firefighters, Local 3531, Lakeland Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Inc., Boaz Lodge# 212 Daytona Beach FL, St. Paul Lodge #77 Lake Wales FL, Florida Morticians Association, Independent Funeral Directors of Florida and the National Funeral Directors & Mortician Association. Click here for the full video.

Eddy Jean Rivers

Eddy Jean Rivers has served as a member of the Roosevelt Alumni Association, PTO OF Jamie Howard Wilson Elementary, MADD DADS Association, Drug Awareness Council of Lake Wales, Red Cross Association, Lake Wales Business and Professional Women's Club, Lake Wales MLK Committee, and Lake Wales Recreation Committee. She has also served as an active Board Member of the Lake Wales NAACP since 1956. Click here for the full video.

Joanne Cobbs

Joanne's volunteer service includes past and current work with the Hispanic Caucus of Orange County, the Orange County Black Caucus, the American Cancer Society, the Central Florida Breast Cancer Foundation, Organizing for America - Obama Campaign, the Hillary Clinton Campaign, the Charlie Christ Campaign, and provided support to candidates running for office in her house district and other districts within County. She currently serves on the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee (OCDEC) as a Precinct Committee Woman for Precinct 544. Click here for the full video.

Mark Canty

Canty's hallmark is leadership by example. That leadership was most in the spotlight in June 2016, when a gunman killed 49 people and injured scores more in an act of terror and hate at Pulse nightclub. As Commander of OPD's SWAT team, Canty directed team members while they rescued survivors and helped ensure no more innocent people were killed. Over the years, Canty's community involvement strides have been just as important as those he has made in crime fighting. Click here for the full video.

Richard Deloach

Richard Deloach is the President of the Lake Wales Youth Football Association, a member of the Lake Wales Recreation Advisory Committee, and the owner of the Polk County War Eagles. Due to his commitment and leadership to the youth and community, Lake Wales Mayor has proclaimed June 4, 2019, as Richard Deloach Day. Click here for the full video.

CW4 (P) Robert LeWayne Johnson

During a thirty three year career of exceptionally meritorious service, CW4(P) Johnson distinguished himself in positions of increasing responsibility with the USA, the USAR, and USAF. Significant positions of leadership included: Senior Legal Administrative Officer (G-7), USARLC; Legal Administrative Officer, 174th LOD; Administrative Officer, 9th LSO; Senior Court Reporter/Amnesty Recorder, 22d SUPCOM, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; Legal Specialist, HHC 21st TAACOM (US); Legal Specialist, HQ 7th Judge Advocate General Detachment, at Fort Sheridan, IL; and also served as a Navigational Aids Electronic Specialist, USAF, Pope Air Force Base. Click here for the full video.

Ronald McCrimon

Ronald McCrimon became a dispatcher with the St. Cloud Police Department. In 1989, he enrolled in the Police Academy and became employed by the Osceola Sheriff Office. This was the beginning of a 28 year career with the Agency. During his tenure with the Agency, he served as a Patrol Deputy, two tours as a member of the Osceola County Investigation Bureau, a sniper on the SWAT Team, and Captain over court administration in the Osceola County Courthouse. In 2017, he retired from the Agency. Click here for the full video.

Dorothy Scott Wilson

Dorothy Scott Wilson has served on the Polk County Chapter of the Florida A&M Board of Directors, on the Board of Directors for the Dr. Joseph A. Wiltshire Scholarship Foundation, as the Development Director for the Lake Wales Hospital, on the Board of Directors for Unity in the Community, on the Board of Directors for the Lake Wales Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship, on the Lincoln Ave Redevelopment Council, on the Board of Directors on the Ray Jones Jr Wellness Project 2019, and is a member of the NAACP. Click here for the full video.