CIVIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD A TRIBUTE TO MURRAY HENDEL

By Dave Trecker

CIVIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD A TRIBUTE TO MURRAY HENDEL

In 2017, the Collier Citizens Council hit upon a way to honor one of its founders and its first president, Murray Hendel.

The idea was to establish an annual award to be given in Hendel’s name to someone who had made extraordinary contributions to Collier County, civic achievements that merited widespread recognition.

The idea met an important CCC criterion – to provide public service, in this case by highlighting major contributions that benefitted the community.

Honoring Murray Hendel was an easy call. A local icon, Hendel had a remarkable career culminating in years of service to Naples.

Trained as a CPA, Hendel worked in both government (the IRS) and the private sector, where he served as a vice president at the Gelco Corporation and General Electric, as well as heading development at several overseas companies. He received a Presidential Citation from Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

His community service record was unrivaled. Hendel chaired the Gulf Shore Associations, the Collier County Presidents Council, the Collier Citizens Council, the Tourist Development Council and the Holocaust Museum of SW Florida. He also served on the Coastal Advisory Committee and the Naples Audit Committee, and was a director for the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce for many years. In addition to numerous civic honors, Hendel was given the Collier County Community Service Award in 2015 and Man-of-the-Year proclamation by the Jewish Historical Society of SW Florida in 2018.

Murray Hendel

Hendel’s record of excellence is reflected in the first three Civic Achievement Award winners:

  • Carrie Kerskie, for her tireless efforts to combat identity theft in Collier County
  • Judge Janeice Martin, for her relentless work for the mentally ill in the county’s treatment courts
  • Nancy Lascheid, cofounder of the Neighborhood Health Clinic, for bringing health care to the needy

Honoring Murray Hendel was an easy call. A local icon, Hendel had a remarkable career culminating in years of service to Naples.  Trained as a CPA, Hendel worked in both government and the private sector. He received a Presidential Citation from Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

His community service record is unrivaled. Hendel chaired the Gulf Shore Association, the Collier County Presidents Council, the Collier Citizens Council, the Tourist Development Council and the Holocaust Museum of SW Florida. He also served on the Coastal Advisory Committee and the Naples Audit Committee, and was a director for the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce for many years. In addition to numerous civic honors, Hendel was given the Collier County Community Service Award in 2015 and Man-of-the-Year proclamation by the Jewish Historical Society of SW Florida in 2018.