
Broxson famiy members unveil one of the highway designation signs which will be erected on Avalon Boulevard. Photo by Romi White.
Dozens of area officials gathered Wednesday at the northern terminus of Avalon Boulevard for a ceremony dedicating the roadway as Bart D. and John R. Broxson Parkway. Broxson family members, including former Florida Senator Doug Broxson, were on hand for the celebration.
Following John’s 2019 passing, Doug’s fellow legislator at the time, Sen. Janet Cruz, sought approval from him to name the roadway in honor of his brother and father’s legacy of public service; however, Doug asked for the dedication to be delayed until after he termed out of office, and that happened last year.
Broxson thanked attendees and pointed out how Avalon Boulevard runs from U.S. 90 in Milton to U.S. 98 in Gulf Breeze, connecting the county via Garcon Point Bridge. “It’s symbolic of coming together as a community,” he said.
Former Florida Speaker of the House Bo Johnson, who was instrumental in Garcon Point Bridge’s construction, noted how the bridge not only helped unify the county but also reduced first responder response times, amongst other benefits.
Florida Senator Don Gaetz noted how the Broxson family has lived in Santa Rosa County for around 200 years, suggesting the county could be renamed Broxson County. Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson agreed, noting the family’s contributions to the office he holds.
Bart, the patriach of the family, which included 11 children, was serving as Santa Rosa Sheriff when killed in the line of duty in a car accident on Christmas Eve 1959. Bart’s wife, Annie, was appointed sheriff until their son, John, was permanently appointed to the position.
At the time, it wasn’t easy for John, who was 27 at the time, to get the appointment. But after traveling to Tallahassee to meet with then-Governor Leroy Collins, he found an advocate after sharing how his father had a premonition something might happen to him and asked him to step up if that came to fruition.
Subsequently, Collins in a Jan. 7, 1960 letter to then-Senator Newman Brackin, stated “I am personally confident this young man is going to make good an vindicate our failth in him. He mad a very deep impression on me for his sincereity, dedication and competance.”
John went on to finish the term as Sheriff and was also later elected to the Florida House and Senate and Santa Rosa County Commission.
Other dignitaries who spoke at the event included Jimmy Patronis, Republican nominee for the Florida’s First Congressional Representative, Florida House District 2 Representative Alex Andrade, Florida Dept. of Transporation District 3 Secretary Phillip Gainer and Brownsville Assembly of God Senior Paston Dr. Evan Horton.
Former Sister Doug Broxson with his sister, Patsy Norwood