Avon Park Honors Two Pioneers

The phrase old-timer is politically incorrect these days, but it's nevertheless perfect to describe the historical society's two latest honorees.

Duane Kopta's earliest memory, when he was just a couple of years old, is standing in a doorway of a cabin homesteaded by his grandfather when a wild sow and four or five piglets walked across the yard.

Nancy Nunnallee's maternal grandparents would winter in Harder Hall, and her father, Walter Betts, a Long Island real estate broker, became the owner of the Brickell Building in Avon Park during the Depression.

On Saturday, Kopta, 74, and Nunnallee, 86, were named the 2008 Pioneers of the Year at the second annual Avon Park Pioneer Homecoming Picnic, held at noon Saturday in the Avon Park Community Center.

"It's a way of capturing history," said Jean Jordan, who chaired the indoor picnic.

Jordan made it official by bestowing on Nunnallee a red polka dot sunbonnet and apron.

"She's been known to show up for church with an apron," Jordan said, to the chuckles of the crowd of 95. A wooden spoon was placed in one pocket, the other bore a steno pad.

"I don't think we need to worry about messing up Duane's hair," Jordan said, as she crowned him with a red Avon Park Museum ball cap, plus a carpenter's apron which symbolized his years in the building trade. Kopta went into business for himself in 1967, and two years later, he became Highlands County's first state-certified building contractor. He's a charter member of Highlands County Building Association.

These days, Kopta and his wife, Wanda, still work the land, raising beans, turnips, okra, oranges and cows. He and Larry Albritton raise sugar cane, and for some years they've organized a sugar cane festival for friends and family, said Larry Levy, who prepared an introduction for this year's pioneers.

After the introductions, Jordan invited everyone to eat, but couldn't decide which table should go first.

"How about everybody who's under 55?" came one catcall from the back. Everyone looked around and laughed, realizing that description fit a handful of people at this luncheon.

After lunch, entertainment came from the Glad Hatters, a Highlands Little Theatre group with a 30-minute skit of songs and jokes.

For more information, call the Avon Park Historical Society, 453-3525.