An official ceremony was held on April 19, for Assistant City Manager Jack Holland after being named the 2022 Citizen of the Year.
The Plant City community came out for the dinner in recognition of him being awarded the title, at the 63rd Annual Awards Luncheon,on Feb. 16. The celebration was also an event highlighting Holland’s career and his contribution to Plant City.
It was hosted by the Plant City Optimist Club, which Holland is a member of, and was held at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center. Friends, family, and the community on a whole were present.
“It’s hard to express the gratitude that I have,” Holland said. “We’ve made a lot of progress with a lot of people.”
Among those in attendance were his fellow Optimist Club members.
“I’m delighted that Jack was nominated and selected as Plant City Citizen of the Year, this year,” said Richard Calhoun, former president of the Plant City Optimist Club. “It speaks well of his character. It speaks well of his reputation.”
He started to build a name for himself 45 years ago, in 1977, when he began working for what was then referred to as the Recreation Department, before merging with the Parks Department.
He served as an athletic assistant for such sports such as soccer and basketball, and was involved in summer camp programs.
In 2004, he accepted the position as director of the Plant City Parks and Recreation Department. As director he oversaw sports programs, other recreation programs and the upkeep of Plant City parks.
Holland and his staff have not only provided a friendly environment, but have been confidants and mentors for the kids who visit any of the three Plant City recreation buildings.
He has been a longtime member of the Optimist Club, having served three terms as President: 1989 to 1990; 2007 to 2008; and 2016 to 2017.
Holland also served on the club’s board of directors and updated club members with upcoming events through the Oracle newsletter.
As a soccer referee, he became a local regional administrator, overseeing 5,600 soccer referees throughout Florida, and was named the Florida Boys High School Soccer Coach of the Year.
He was a Florida State Referee nominee and served as one during the 1996 Olympics held in Atlanta.
What’s more, he attended the World Cup in Mexico in 1986, Italy in 1990, the U.S. in 1990 and 1994, France in 1998. And he has plans to go to the tournament in Qatar this year.
Last December, he accepted the position of assistant city manager.
Holland now serves alongside Plant City City Manager Bill McDaniel and helps to oversee the city departments: Planning and Zoning, Utilities, Engineering, and Solid Waste as well as Streets and Stormwater.
When he transitioned into his new government position, he left the Parks and Recreation Department with a budget of $7 million.
At the turn of the new year, he was selected and named as the 2022 Citizen of the Year.
Holland’s former Parks and Recreation staff, the town’s youth, and the City Commission are all considered friends and have helped to achieve much for Plant City, he said.
He also thanked his fellow Optimist Club members for their support over the years.
“My friends at Optimist, because of what you’ve allowed me to do, I’ve been able to reach so many people in this town,” he said. “My work community let me do that…All I can say is thank you.”