Donna Green-Townsend
Multimedia Productions
Originally aired on Savvy Traveler in February, 1998 So you say you’ve been to Florida, you’ve worked on your tan. You’ve seen the mouse. What could possibly top that? snd of PA system saying: “Please make your way to the boats at this time, the boats are ready to go” As Donna Green-Townsend reports thousands … Continue reading Airboating In the Florida Everglades
Remembering Don Grooms (originally aired on Florida Public Radio in January of 1998) Don Grooms won the prestigious Florida Folk Heritage Award in 1996. Grooms, who taught for more than three decades in the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida, was influenced by the late “Father of Florida Folk,” Will McLean. … Continue reading The Musical Legacy of Don Grooms
Tale of Three Quarterbacks Broadcast on WUFT-FM in the Summer of 1997 When the college football season opened in the Fall of 1997, two quarterbacks from SEC football teams had big dreams. Tennessee’s “golden boy” Peyton Manning and the University of Florida’s Doug Johnson had big shoes to fill and goals to accomplish….all … Continue reading Tale of Three Quarterbacks: Doug Johnson, Peyton Manning and Danny Wuerffel
(Gator Rewind: sports archive feature originally aired in the Spring of 1999) In the spring of 1999 University of Florida QB Doug Johnson found himself in the center of debate. After winning the National College Football Championship under the leadership of QB Danny Wuerffel, many fans were disappointed in Johnson’s new role as Wuerffel’s replacement. In … Continue reading Doug Johnson Says He’s Committed to Leading the Gators
Originally aired on WUFT on October 17, 1997 (original script) Funeral services were held on Thursday for environmentalist Marjorie Carr. Carr died October 10th at the age of 82 after a long battle with emphysema. Carr is the Gainesville conservationist who initiated a successful campaign in the 1960s to kill the Cross Florida Barge Canal. … Continue reading Remembering Marjorie Carr
(originally aired on WUFT-FM in August of 1997) (original intro) The first weekend in August of 1997 kicked off the first annual Cross Creek Summer, Arts and Culture in Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ Florida. Organizers hoped the week-long event would introduce people to the Florida Rawlings loved and attract those ecotourists looking for the real Florida. … Continue reading Cross Creek Summer
The Dream To Go Pro (originally aired on WUFT in June 10th,1997) Part 1 For many Florida sports fans, the 1997 NFL will go down as one of the most memorable. All three major universities had draft picks in the first round. Playing in the pros is a dream for many college athletes, some even forsaking … Continue reading The Dream To Go Pro
(Originally aired in the summer of 1997) (Photos courtesy of Brittany Thompson) Nearly two years have passed since a long-time industry came to a screeching halt in Florida. A controversial net ban, passed by an overwhelming majority of Florida voters, has ended a way of life for thousands of commercial fishermen in the state. Many … Continue reading Cedar Key Fishermen Turn to Clam Farming After Net Ban
Aired on WUFT on May 30, 1997 Thousands of visitors “came home to Florida” last weekend. That was the theme of this year’s 45th Annual Florida Folklife Festival in White Springs. Many of the state’s well-known recording artists as well as the “not-so-famous” entertained audiences on a variety of outdoor stages. Donna Green-Townsend attended this … Continue reading The Sights and Sounds of the Florida Folk Festival
Before the Denver Broncos, and before the Indianapolis Colts, Quarterback Peyton Manning was known as “Tennessee’s Golden Boy.” In 1997 many sportswriters predicted Manning would have made millions if he had left the University of Tennessee and gone into the NFL draft. But Manning had other plans. He wanted one more year of college football. Ironically, he … Continue reading Peyton Manning Reflects On His Decision to Delay NFL Dreams and Play College Football One More Year