Richard E. Hamrick

Richard E. Hamrick. . , H. Gilbert Culbreth, Jr. and family dedicate this flag to the public in honor of "Colonel” Richard E. Hamrick and Annie B. Hamrick for their dedication and contributions to this community. The term "Colonel" was frequently used as a title, though he never served in the military. It referred to a "Cracker Colonel", a way of referring to lawyers back then. He was most commonly referred to as R.E. , R.E. arrived in the newly formed Okeechobee County in the spring of 1917. The young attorney was appointed as the first Superintendent of Schools in September of 1917 and served the community in that capacity until January 1921. As Superintendent, he oversaw the first Okeechobee High School graduating class of 1920. For the next seventy years, he was active in the legal fields, real estate, and the cattle industry. Annie B. received a teaching degree from the Florida School for Women (FSU) which she put to use when she established the first kindergarten in Okeechobee. During the school's 14 years of operation, she introduced hundreds of Okeechobee children to the wonder of learning. Before passing in 1970, she also spent much time caring for her family of three boys, R.E. Jr., David, and Harvey. , R.E. is credited with starting one of the first dairies in the area, as well as bringing the first Brahma cattle. In 1947 he was instrumental in purchasing all the rights of the dedication of the original plat of Okeechobee which included Flagler Park. It was the Hamricks' intention that Flagler Park would remain free from commercial use and dedicated as an area for the public as a park in perpetuity to benefit all citizens of Okeechobee. During their lives, the Hamricks granted certain uses within the park that would serve the public at large, such as the first public pool, Chamber of Commerce building, and public library. They also donated property on which the current Hospice of Okeechobee and Hamrick Home now sit. R.E.'s support of the library was a tribute to Annie B.'s devotion to educating the children of Okeechobee.