SJC Parks and Recreation Hall of Fame

2025

Beverly J. Fleming

Beverly Fleming (Feb. 22, 1947 – May 23, 2016) served as St. Johns County’s first County Naturalist, working for the Parks and Recreation Department at the Trout Creek Community Center for over 10 years. Beverly was born in Missouri and came to Florida in the 1970s. She was passionate about wild Florida and through her passion, became a self-taught naturalist and botanist while living on a property by the St. Johns River. Fleming learned from hours of observation and had remarkable relationships with the wildlife she encountered, even rehabilitating injured animals when they crossed her path. Her owl Sam, who could not be released due to injuries, was one of these rescues. She was instrumental in the founding of the Friends of Alpine Groves Park and an active member of the reenacting community in the Bartram Scenic Highway area where she lived and worked.

Beverly was an environmental educator in many ways, writing articles for the local newspapers, leading nature walks, and teaching Florida Master Naturalist courses. In addition to writing for local publications, she wrote two books about Northeast Florida: “The Legacy of the Ditch Witches” and “A Guide to Natural Treasures of Northeast Florida”. She was heavily involved with many environmental organizations, including Mandarin Garden Club, Switzerland Garden Club, St. Augustine Garden Club, Audubon Society of Jacksonville, St. Johns Riverkeeper, Bartram Scenic Highway, Friends of Alpine Groves, Florida Native Plant Society of St. Augustine, and the Environmental Education Resource Counsel of Northeast Florida. She received the Fellow Man and Mother Earth Award from the Stetson Kennedy Foundation in 2015.

Today her legacy lives on for County park visitors to enjoy, from her butterfly garden at Alpine Groves Park to the trails she created at Trout Creek Park. Her influence is remembered fondly by many in St. Johns County- family, professional, and wildlife.

2024

Bert Watson

John Bert Watson (Oct. 17, 1950 – Sept. 4, 2021) is the 2024 inductee into the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Hall of Fame. Bert Watson served 12 years on the Recreation Advisory Board and Northwest Tower Committee Board, helped found the Creeks Athletic Association, and was key in establishing the St. Johns County Parks Foundation.

2023

Eddie Vickers

Eddie Lee Vickers  (June 10, 1918 – Dec ) began working for the City of St. Augustine supervising activities at Little Links Park and youth center in Lincolnville. Eddie and Barbara were both actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement in St. Augustine in the 1960’s, protesting in marches and rallies. In 1958, he then began working for St. Johns County Parks and Recreation as a Recreation Leader. Over the span of his career with Parks and Rec, Eddie coached baseball and oversaw other activities at Little Links Park. He also organized the Vickers Red Raiders youth football team in the 1960s. He retired in 1987, then came back to work for SJC Parks and Rec in 1990. Coach Vickers taught fair play and sportsmanship which has left a positive impact on the community that is still felt and remembered today.

2022

Red Cox

After moving to St. Augustine to play for the St. Augustine Saints baseball team in 1946, J. Edward “Red” Cox started his career in recreation in 1949.  He ran the summer recreation program that year at the departure of Mr. Gantt. Records from June 18, 1949 announced the summer rec program run by Red Cox as acting director. Red Cox referred to his start with the “Community Playground Association” as the beginning of the recreation program the county now enjoyed in 1987. Red Cox Retired on Sept. 30, 1987 after serving as the director of the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation for 38 years.