November 18, 1992
Mary I. Johnson became the first Orange County Commissioner of Hispanic descent.
As a three-term representative for District 3, she promoted community growth.
Her personal efforts have brought several parks to the area, a family center and many improvements downtown.
Johnson is also a strong supporter of transportation and regional planning.
Prior to the county commission seat, Johnson served 12 years on the Orlando City Council.
November 19, 1982
An expanded Gillespie Museum at Stetson University opened to the public.
The museum was founded in 1958 when Thomas Byrd and Nellie Estelle Gillespie donated their collection of gems and minerals to the school.
Their only request was the collection get a permanent home.
That home is now at the corner of Amelia and Michigan avenues on Stetson's DeLand Campus.
Today the museum hosts a variety of exhibits dealing with Earth Science.
November 20, 1990
Linda Chapin became Orange County's first chairman, a position created by a new county charter.
During her two-term tenure, Chapin's accomplishments included overseeing county growth, primarily with projects like the growing Orlando International Airport and the Orange County Convention Center.
Today, Linda Chapin serves the University of Central Florida as the International Director of the Metropolitan Center for Regional Studies.
November 21, 1991
The road to quicker, more convenient expressway travel was in the works.
After some minor delays, the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority granted an extension to the company responsible for building an electronic toll system.
Transportation officials were developing a system to allow motorists to prepay toll expenses.
The $20 million toll system officially opened to traffic in May 1994. Now, what we know as E-PASS has expanded to toll roads throughout Central Florida.
November 22, 1963
President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.
Kennedy was shot twice as his motorcade paraded down a Dallas street.
In memory of his death and in honor of his life accomplishments, NASA's space facility is named the Kennedy Space Center.
November 23, 1857
The land was cleared for Orlando's first place of worship.
The process was a long one, but 15 years later Orlando's Free Church was servicing the community in the heart of downtown.
The little log cabin had a dual purpose. Residents could dress up in their Sunday best to come to alternating Baptist, Methodist and Episcopal church services, and children gathered during the week to do their reading, writing and arithmetic.
Twenty years later, the schoolhouse/churchhouse was torn down.
November 24, 1923
Ocoee became a town.
The thriving area had about 500 residents.
Property was inexpensive, which caused Ocoee to quickly expand and grow into a city, as more people sought work in citrus groves and vegetable farms.