AS DISTINGUISHED
AS THEY COME
WORDS & PICTURES: Wendy Dewhurst
To kick off the 2018 Manatee County Fair last month, over 225
guests gathered at the Fairgrounds for a VIP Luncheon to
present the Distinguished Citizen Award.
This award is presented annually by the members of the Manatee
River Fair Association, in conjunction with the Manatee Board
of County Commissioners. It recognizes those individuals who
County in the way of volunteer community service.
Since 1956, the award has been presented at the Fair. In the
spring, a reception and ceremony honors the award recipient
when their footprints are unveiled in concrete on the sidewalk in
front of the Manatee County Courthouse.
“The 2018 Distinguished Citizen honoree is a native of Bradenton,
a graduate of Manatee High School, and was born in July, 1935,
in Samoset, Florida,” said Manatee County Fair Manager Dan
West as he began the presentation.
As I looked over at Colonel Lawrence “Larry” E. Bustle, Jr. I
could see the emotion take over as he quickly realized that Dan
was talking about him.
For the next few minutes, you could hear a pin drop as the crowd
He continued: “Following graduation from the United States Naval
Academy in Annapolis he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant
in the United States Air Force and received his pilot wings in 1958.
“After enjoying a 27-year distinguished career, he retired from
his service as a Colonel in 1984. For his service in Vietnam he
was awarded the Silver Star, The Distinguished Flying Cross,
nine air medals, and the Purple Heart.”
“This outstanding and decorated member of our community
knew that total retirement was not in his future. He wanted to
continue serving this country and his hometown, that was so
important to him. He chose public service and was elected Mayor
of Palmetto in 2001.
Manatee County Commission representing District 1. While on
the Commission, he was twice voted as Chairman; he then served
three consecutive years as Chair of the Manatee County Port
Chair of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and a member
of the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization.
“His community service includes the American Patriotism
Development Council Advisory Board. He is a past board member
of the South Florida Museum and Bishop Planetarium, the Manatee
Chamber of Commerce, Community Coalition on Homelessness,
and the Manatee River Fair Association. He is a graduate of
Leadership Florida. He is married to the former Edie Stevenson
and they have four grown children and two grandchildren.”
A standing ovation welcomed Bustle to the stage and the crowd
broke out in laughter as Bustle began his speech.
“This is an amazing fair that continues to be a shining light in
our community. Thank you all for coming and thank you for the
As Bustle stepped back, Edie, his wife of more than 60 years,
husband and we have had fun!!”
Bustle was nominated by Manatee County Commissioner, and
long-time friend, Carol Whitmore.
She said: “He served his community, his country, and his family,
with dignity and honor. There is nobody like Larry Bustle. I
was with him when he had a
life-threatening event a few
years ago, and the doctors
in intensive care told me that
if Larry survived being shot
down in Vietnam with the
specialized plane that he was
I love this man dearly and was
thrilled to nominate him for
this award.”
When I asked Larry if he was
surprised he responded: “I
thought it was possible, but I
never dreamed it could be real.
I guess I suspected something
when I saw my daughter, Lou,
ELC BOARD MEMBERS AT THE FAIR
and my son Bill in the back.”
Andrew Minor and Family