REQUESTED BY COMMISSIONER ALBERT C. JONES – BROWARD COUNTY

WHEREAS, Don Mizell, executive, attorney, producer, and member of the one of the most preeminent families in South Florida, will be loaning his Grammy award for exhibit at the Old Dillard Museum in Fort Lauderdale; and

WHEREAS, in 2005, Don received a Grammy, the music industry’s highest and most prestigious award, as a producer for “Album of the Year,” on Ray Charles’ Genius Loves Company, which garnered an all-time eight awards, sold over 6 million copies, and was the biggest record of Ray Charles’ storied career; and

WHEREAS, this album covered the entire spectrum of Americana roots music and featured Ray Charles performing duets with James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Natalie Cole, BB King, Willie Nelson, Johnny Mathis, Van Morrison, Gladys Knight, Michael McDonald, Diana Krall, and Norah Jones; and
WHEREAS, as creative director, Don originated the multi-genre,
multi-generational concept for this album; and

WHEREAS, Don Mizell attended Walker Elementary, Dillard Elementary, and Wingate Junior High in Fort Lauderdale; and

WHEREAS, he was a 1967 graduate of Nova High School where he served as the first African American President of Student Government of a predominantly white student body in the State of Florida; and

WHEREAS, Don graduated from Swarthmore College in 1971, where he was a Thomas J. Watson International Fellow, and received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1975; and

WHEREAS, Don embodies the collective virtues of the Mizell family pioneers, who settled in Broward County for over 100 years ago, outstanding individual achievement, personal responsibility, and leadership service to the community and, individually, the importance of self-reliance, independence, entrepreneurship, political accountability, financial success, and respect; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA:

That the Board hereby designates Saturday, July 31, 2010, as “DON MIZELL APPRECIATION DAY” in Broward County, Florida, thanks him for sharing the Mizell Family Legacy, and welcomes the Mizell family as it celebrates over 40 years of family reunions.