Alma Lee Loy: The First Lady of Vero Beach

For 40 years, Alma Lee Loy has dedicated her life to the betterment of Indian River County.

Alma Lee Loy:

The First Lady of Vero Beach

For 40 years, Alma Lee Loy has dedicated her life to the betterment of Indian River County.

THE FIRST LADY OF VERO BEACH

denise ritchie

BY Mary Beth Vallar

Alma Lee Loy in one of her favorite places, McKee Botanical Garden. As president of the Indian River Land Trust, she fought hard to save the Garden from development, and is currently its president for the second time.

“This place is so serene and so quiet – coming here restores your soul,” she says.

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Alma Lee is seen here at 2 years, 8 months, playing on the lawn of the old Hotel Vero Del Mar in downtown Vero Beach.

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he is someone who – rather than bemoaning that things are not what they used to be – has spent her entire life embracing change and working to preserve, improve and enhance all that is valuable and unique about Indian River County. She is someone who tends to think about change in terms of what is good for the entire community, yet with an eye to preserving that which must be saved for generations to come. She is someone with a gracious manner and a kind word to all, a warm smile, soft brown eyes and a laugh that comes easy and often. That about sums up Alma Lee Loy, a true gem in the treasure that is the Treasure Coast.

Alma Lee has been a mentor to so many who have followed her into community service that, in 1995, the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce established the Alma Lee Loy Community Service Award. The proud recipients have expressed both delight and humility, but it comes as a surprise to Alma Lee that she has been a mentor at all.

“I think of a mentor as someone in a classroom, taking a student under her wings,” she says. “I just never gave much thought about what I was doing.” What she was doing was setting the bar high and challenging others to strive for it.

lma Lee was born in Vero Beach and grew up in a simpler time. It

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was a time when a family’s social life and entertainment centered on its church (in her case the First Baptist Church, where she is still active). It was a time when youngsters played sandlot ball with other kids in the neighborhood and got around on foot or a bicycle.

Especially endearing to her are memories of playing with her siblings, George and Gwen. “When we were young the three of us and a few friends from the neighborhood would spend hours playing together and just having fun,” she says. “That was our best entertainment.” And school, with all the activities surrounding it, was pure joy to the elder daughter of Viola and George Loy. Her parents came to Vero Beach as a young couple in 1928. George was the manager of I.M. Waters Men’s Wear and later bought the store, changing the name to Loy’s.

With retailing in her background it is no surprise that Alma Lee eventually co-owned and operated a successful children’s store.

However, a story about her true start goes this way: When she was 6 years old she opened a lemonade stand, getting the lemons, ice and sugar from her home to set up. The second day her father told her she would have to buy her own ice, lemons and sugar to stay in business. She did, and took her first step toward becoming a successful entrepreneur.

She later worked in her father’s store. “I loved the store and being with all the people,” she recalls.

Her father recruited her to run errands. She remembers the time he asked her to go to the bank for change. “He handed me a $100 bill – it was the first time I had held one in my hand. I marched down the half block to the bank with all the confidence in the world, but I

In 1975, as chairman of the county commission, Alma Lee displays a cautionary bumper sticker sent to her by a local taxpayer. She was one of the first women in the state to be elected chairman of a county commission.

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As a county commissioner Alma Lee played a major role in the battle of the 17th Street Bridge, one of the most controversial projects in Vero Beach history. Here, she’s seen with her fellow commissioners at the formal opening of the bridge in 1980.

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This card dates from Alma Lee’s first political campaign in 1968, when she was the first woman ever elected to the Indian River County Commission. All told, she spent 12 years with the commission, including three as chairman and three as vice chairman.

Alma Lee with her fellow commissioners in 1973. Standing, from left: Commissioner Jack Dritenbas, Vice Chairman Edward Massey and Commissioners Willard (Bunny) Siebert and Richard Bogosian. Seated: County Administrator Jack Jennings, Chairman Alma Lee Loy and Attorney Paul Burch.

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was shaking the whole way,” she laughs.

This confidence carried her through life, standing her in good stead whenever she was asked to take on a challenge, whether it was running for the county commission, joining the founding board of such community organizations as the United Way and Education Foundation, or accepting a gubernatorial appointment to the Indian River Hospital District.

She also learned at an early age how to cope with tragedy, and grow from it. Her father recognized her business potential and picked out the Rochester Institute of Technology for her to study merchandising. It was while he was taking her to the school that he suffered a massive heart attack and died at the age of 41. Alma Lee delayed matriculating in the Rochester school,

but only temporarily, crediting her mother with holding things together. “My mother was a woman of strong faith and enormous courage,” she says. It was she who kept Loy’s Men’s Wear going, with the help of manager Clarence Richey, until Alma Lee’s younger brother George was able to take over; and it was she who insisted that Alma Lee fulfill her father’s plan for her education.

After finishing her Associate in Applied Science degree, Alma Lee enrolled at the University of Miami. “I thought I had better go on and get my regular college degree in case I ever had to work for someone other than myself,” she explains. She earned a B.A. in Business Administration with minors in economics and management. And she played every sport available to her at the university, which was not unusual because she had participated in every sport that was available to her in Vero Beach as a child and teenager. She was especially proficient at tennis and golf; in fact, she joined Vero Beach Country Club on her own at age 19 so she could play golf, and within a few years she was the women’s club champion.

Her goal after college was to return to Vero Beach – not to join the family retail business, but to start one of her own. There was one problem: “I didn’t have any money.” But return to Vero Beach she did, and was offered a job at the Press Journal as Society Editor.

That prospect was very appealing to her, but the self-proclaimed tomboy’s first thought was, “now I’ll have to wear dresses.” Soon she was attending every fledgling charity event, social organization and civic group in town, giving them much-needed publicity.

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uring the years of 1952-55 when she worked at the Press Journal, the reporters and editors did a bit of everything. So not surprisingly Alma Lee often covered sports events to help out the sports editor; she even wrote a sports column under the name “Duffer Dan.” She also loved to visit the press room because “all the machines just fascinated me.

In fact, I think I learned to use all the machines except the linotype, and I enjoyed this as much as staying out front.”

She also endeared herself to the people “in the back” by showing genuine appreciation for their contribution to getting the paper on the streets. This gracious attitude continued wherever her life took her. For instance, as a director of the Beach Bank (later Northern Trust) she was known to greet each teller by name when she entered the bank. Later, as a member of the board of directors of Indian River Memorial Hospital, she gave a figurative pat on the back to every hospital staffer she encountered.

Her dream of going into business remained strong, but she had to find her niche. What was needed in Vero Beach? She did her own survey and found that people wanted a pet store, a cafeteria and a children’s store. Because of her love of children, the latter most appealed to her. Still needing capital to pursue the opportunity, she found it through her friendship with Lucy Auxier, whom Alma Lee had known for a number of years. While at the Press Journal she had helped Lucy plug the work of the brand-new hospital auxiliary, of which Lucy was one of the founders. Now, backed by Lucy’s husband Herschel (whom

ALMA LEE LOY’S LIFETIME HONORS AND AWARDS Indian River Community College Honorary Associate in Arts Degree for Special Recognition of Service, 2008 Gifford Youth Activity Center 2007 Dan K. Richardson Humanitarian Award Taxpayer’s Association of Indian River County 2007 Ted Brown Award for Volunteer of the Year Cultural Council of Indian River County 2000 Carolyn K. Eggert Laurel Award in recognition of numerous and effective cultural contributions Indian River County Olympic Torch Bearer 1996 Recognition as a “Community Hero” Grand Marshal, Labor Day Parade 1994 Exchange Club 1983: Book of Golden Deeds Wabasso Beach County Park 1980: Dedication for efforts in developing public beaches and parks Fraternal Order of Police 1979: Citizen of the Year Vero Beach Civic Association 1976 Torch Award Indian River Safety Council 1975 Safety Crusader Award Junior Women’s Club 1974 Humanitarian of the Year Junior Women’s Club 1973 Woman of the Year Vero Beach Jaycees 1972 Good Government Award State of Florida University System 1963 Citation Business and Professional Women’s Club 1961 Woman of the Year

they paid back in two years), the women entered a partnership which lasted until they closed their children’s store and retired in 1997.

To get started, they bought Youth Land, a children’s store on 14th Avenue, mainly for its fixtures, changed the name and moved almost immediately to another site on the same street. It was Lucy’s idea to call the store Alma Lee’s because, she said, “That’s what everyone would call it anyway.” Two years later they moved the growing retail operation into the location on 20th Street where they would remain for the next 40 years.

The children’s store provided quality merchandise and outstanding customer service, the latter supplied not only by Alma Lee and Lucy, but by a cadre of competent, friendly saleswomen. In fact, it was this staff that made it possible for Alma Lee to devote a good deal of energy in the pursuit of another important chapter in her life, the board of Indian River County’s county commissioners.

The year was 1968 and she had already served as president of the Chamber of Commerce, a founding member and president of the county’s United Way, a charter member and president of the Downtown Merchants Association and a founding member of the Vero Beach City Recreation Board. So it was no surprise that the local powers-that-be tapped her to run for office.

She ran opposed for a seat on the county commission as a Democrat (“Everyone was a Democrat back then”) for her first term. She was unopposed for her second term, but opposed for her third. She won handily in both of her contested races; however, she took nothing for granted and campaigned

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CIVIC ENDEAVORS, 1961-PRESENT

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President, Vero Beach/Indian River County Chamber of Commerce President and Charter Member, Indian River County United Fund President and Charter Member, Downtown Merchants Association President, Indian River County Youth Center Founding Member, Vero Beach Recreation Board Founding Member, Florida Governor’s Status of Women Commission Vice Chairman and Chairman, Indian River County Board of County Commissioners Council Representative, East Central Florida Regional Planning Indian River County Coordinator, White House Conference on Youth Member, Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council Member and Secretary/Treasurer, Florida Association of Highway Safety Leaders Treasurer, Florida Women’s Safety Advisory Board Vice Chairman, Joint County City Planning Commission Chairman and Charter Member, Civic Arts Advisory Commission for the City of Vero Beach Co-Chairman, Fund Drive to Build Riverside Theatre Vero Beach Community Theatre Trust Board of Directors Chairman, Indian River County Fund Drive for Student Center at IRCC Member, Citizen’s Advisory Board for Florida Technological University Member, Vero Beach Country Club Board of Directors Board of Directors and President, Indian River County Volunteer Ambulance Squad Nominating Committee Member, 19th Judicial Circuit Ad Hoc Committee Member, Indian River County Schools Board of Directors, Indian River County Historical Society Co-Chairman, Center for the Arts Capital Fund Drive Honorary Co-Chairman, United Way 25th Anniversary Fund Drive Board of Directors, Center for the Arts & Alliance for the Arts Board Member, Vero Beach Jaycees Board of Directors, Indian River Memorial Hospital Co-Chairman, Environmental Learning Center Board of Directors, Carroll Otto Endowment Fund of Riverside Theatre Charter Member, American Association of University Women Board of Directors, Cultural Council of Indian River County Campaign Chairman, Center for the Arts Capital Expansion Advisory Council Member, Center for the Arts Advisory Council Member, Riverside Theatre Chairman, Capital Campaign for McKee Botanical Garden President, Indian River Land Trust Past and Current President, McKee Botanical Garden Trustee & Secretary, Indian River Hospital District Vice-Chairman, Veteran’s Memorial Island Sanctuary Advisory Committee Board of Directors, Indian River State College Foundation Advisory Board Member, Northern Trust Bank Board of Directors, Indian River Community Foundation Honorary Trustee, Environmental Learning Center Honorary Advisory Council, Indian River Medical Center Foundation Incorporator, Education Foundation of Indian River County Honorary Chairman, Indian River County Chamber of Commerce Building Campaign Member, First Baptist Church Endowment Committee

on Aviation Boulevard, waving to Piper employees as they went to and from work. (In 1991, Alma Lee changed her party affiliation to Republican: “The Democratic Party left me, I didn’t leave it,” she says.)

Her political career was significant in a number of ways, not only for her role in the accomplishments of the time, but also because she broke new ground for women in the county and the state. She was the first woman to serve on the local commission, and one of the first women in the state to be elected as chairman of a county commission. She presided as chairman for three years and vice chairman for another three years during her 12 years on the board.

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he years 1968-80 represented a time when much was happening that would affect the future quality of life in the county. The 17th Street Bridge, today taken for granted by the thousands of residents who cross it every week, is one of the things of which she is most proud. The site for the bridge was a hard fought and bitter battle, she explains. Opposition came from citizens who lobbied loud and strong for the city’s second bridge to be built over an aquatic preserve at 12th Street.

“We were a solid front on the commission with all five of us in favor of the 17th Street location, and we had the support and cooperation of the state DOT,” she recalls. “But we kept bumping up against one thing and another. A citizen who owned electric revenue certificates, issued by the City of Vero Beach, even filed a lawsuit.

Finally, we were able to overcome all the hurdles, and what that

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Betsy Whisman (IRMC), Gwen Guy (sister), Robyn Guy (niece) and long-time friend Johnnie Sherwood congratulate Alma Lee (center) on receiving the Gifford Youth Activity Center 2007 Dan K. Richardson Humanitarian Award. photography courtesy of the education foundation

bridge means today to the traveling public in terms of convenience and emergency evacuation is immeasurable.”

Other battles were fought, and not always won, during her tenure on the commission. These included the building of a youth offender prison facility on Oslo Road, a countywide sewer and water project, and the combining of the city and county recreation departments.

“The public, and especially the neighbors, did not want the prison built here. We put construction off for about six months while we gained concessions from the Department of Corrections, which was determined to plow ahead without proper notice and input from the public. We went as far as the governor’s office and in the end the Department of Corrections accepted our recommendations. The prison today is one of the finest youth offender facilities in the state.”

One of the most unpopular issues to come to a head while Alma Lee was a commissioner was the county-wide sewer and water program, which was met with overwhelming opposition among county residents. “The project was too big and we were too early,” she says. “We didn’t expect to be awarded the $20 million grant as soon as we did, but we had a deadline to meet and not enough time to educate the public. Today, we have county-wide water but not a county-wide sewer system.”

A major disappointment after she left politics was the separation of city and county recreation departments, even though they had been combined while she served on the county commission.

This was something for which she

Education Foundation incorporators Alma Lee Loy and Dan K. Richardson (seated center) with the non-profit’s past presidents: (seated) Vince Boyle and Peter Robinson, (standing) are David Koulish, Susan Hopkins, Jay Hart, Ken Felten, John E. Moore, Kim Peckham and Sam Block.

fought hard and still thinks is the way to go. But she certainly doesn’t dwell on matters no longer under her purview – especially when there were so many other causes to occupy her energy. These have included the Center for the Arts, precursor to the Vero Beach Museum of Art; the Environmental Learning Center, and Indian River Memorial Hospital, now the Indian River Medical Center. However, it is McKee Botanical Garden that remains especially close to her heart.

She was one of the many who worked tirelessly to save from development 18 precious acres of the original 80-acre McKee Jungle Gardens, a unique treasure of exotic plants set in the natural landscape of a Florida coastal hammock. Later, she chaired the capital campaign to build what is the botanical garden today. She also served as president of the Indian River Land Trust,

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Over the years, Alma Lee has worked tirelessly to preserve, improve and enhance public beaches and parks. In 1980, her efforts were recognized at the dedication of Wabasso Beach County Park.

which became the instrument to acquire the property. She was the first president of McKee Botanical Garden, a position she currently holds again.

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er love for McKee is really a love of its history as much as for its gardens of orchids and other natural and exotic plants. “This place is so serene and so quiet – coming here restores your soul,” she says. “It’s a place like no other and we had to make sure it was not lost forever. It is our responsibility as adults to make sure that we preserve things like this for generations to come.”

Her interest in preservation carries over into her current role as vice chairman of the Veteran’s Memorial Island Sanctuary Committee, the advisory committee on the development and perpetual care of that tiny island.

“The City of Vero Beach Public Works Department does a marvelous job and right now the sanctuary is as beautiful as never before,” she says, recalling that the sanctuary was devastated by the two hurricanes of 2004 when a foot of water covered the entire island. “If you want to go someplace that is quiet, beautiful and meaningful, that is the place. And we are blessed to have it right here.”

Alma Lee is a booster for so many institutions and organizations that are important to the county, and she loves to talk about them. “I am particularly proud of our community college,” she says. “It opened in 1959 as a junior college and has continued to grow and meet the needs of its residents. Now, of course, it is a four-year institution and has been renamed Indian River State College.”

Along the way Alma Lee played a vital role when she chaired the Indian

River County fund drive to build the first student center, the Koblegard Center in Ft. Pierce. Later, she served as a founding board member of the college’s Lifelong Learning Institute, and recently joined the board of the IRSC Foundation.

She enthusiastically points to the “fantastic things that are happening at the college,” such as the state-of-the-art Kight Center for Emerging Technologies.

Last summer Alma Lee was appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to fill an empty seat on the Indian River Hospital District board, which oversees the Treasure Coast’s only publicly-owned hospital and levies taxes to support several community health agencies. Who better for this position than someone who served on the original board of Indian River Memorial Hospital from 1986-1992?

In 2007, Alma Lee was recognized by the Gifford Youth Activity Center and awarded the Dan K. Richardson Humanitarian Award. It was just the latest in a series of honors from “Woman of the Year” awarded in 1961 by the Business & Professional Women’s Club, to her designation as “Community Hero” and Olympic torch bearer in 1996.

When one wonders aloud what might come next, Alma Lee laughs and shakes her head. “People have always been good to me, and I have received communitywide support for my endeavors, especially from my sister Gwen and brother-in-law Tom Guy.” Modestly, Alma Lee adds that she “was in the right place at the right time, and so many wonderful things have happened.” But the fact is that she helped make them happen, and the community is far better because of it. `