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His recounting of the "little-known stories of Sarasota County's founding fathers as well as his artful ability to share stories of those who didn't get popular credit for their contri- butions" has helped bring history alive, she pointed out. His most recent book, she noted — turning to him and saying with a big smile, "This is your plug" — is The Rise of Sarasota: Ken Thompson and the Birth of Paradise, which was published in 2012, Robinson noted. It "explains why things are the way they are in Sarasota today," she added, pointing out that it focuses on the longtime city manager of Sarasota and the city's development. "It has had a dramatic impact on the way I look at things," Robinson told the audience. When it was his turn to take the mic, LaHurd said, "It was very gratifying for me to get this award," not only because it represents state- wide recognition but also because he was being "recognized by the people that I work for and the people that I work with." Robinson's letter, he continued, meant as much to him as the award. Lorrie Muldowney, Sarasota County historical resources manager, pointed out that LaHurd was nominated for the honor by the Friends of the Sarasota County History Center. The Sarasota County Commission Chairman Charles Hines (second from right) and Vice Chairwoman Christine Robinson (right) present a canvas of a photograph of retiring Fire Chief Mike Tobias (second from left) to Tobias and wife Sharon on May 21. Photo by Steve Dawson, Sarasota County Communications Department Sarasota News Leader May 30, 2014 Page 54