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Historians To Honor 'A Living Resource'

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 26, 2007

TAMPA - The decades of preserving his family's history, collecting antiques and spreading generosity haven't gone unnoticed.

Over the years, Fernando Rodriguez Mesa has received honors and awards, including having a Tampa Heights park named for him and being named the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce's Man of the Year in 2000.

At 94, Mesa isn't being forgotten.

The Tampa Historical Society will present him with its annual D.B. McKay Award for his contributions to local history. The event will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Tampa Yacht & Country Club, 5320 Interbay Blvd.

"The number of people who have exhaustive memories and artifacts from pioneer Tampa is dwindling," said Maureen Patrick, the society's president. "He, himself, is an artifact. He is a living resource."

Mesa's longtime home in Tampa Heights, which he sold last year, was maintained like a museum. He had photographs, china, figurines and mementos from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

He donated most of his collection to the historical society, Ybor City State Museum and Centro Asturiano.
Jose Patino Girona

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