Take a Stroll Down Memory Lane with Naples History Nuggets with Jeff Lytle

Jeff Lytle

Try your knowledge about Naples mayors? Cities? Sharpen your pencil and step right up. With trivia board games as popular as ever, and with Trivial Pursuit even sprouting a TV game version on an over-the-air network, it’s easy to see how Trivia Naples could be next in line.

Let’s start with a 20 question potpourri, as another game show might call it.

1. Aubrey Rogers High School is named after
a late public official who held what office?
a. Collier County Commissioner
b. Collier County Sheriff
c. Naples City Council member
d. Florida legislator

2. Governor and now U.S. Senator Rick Scott is the only local public official who has been elected to a statewide elected office –either once or twice?
a. True
b. False

3. How many Naples mayors have been women?
a. one
b. two
c. three
d. none

4. What was the name of the second hospital to serve Naples and Collier County?
a. Physicians Regional
b. Southwest Florida/Naples
c. Cleveland Clinic
d. Naples National

5. What health care organization based in Chicago is expanding to downtown Naples to, as one official puts it, to better serve our patients?
a. Northwestern Medical
b. Soldiers Mutual
c. Field Health
d. Wrigleycare

6. How many cities are in Collier County?
a. one
b. three
c. four
d. five

7. How many other areas have publicly discussed making the move to incorporate into cities, with full government powers?
a. Pelican Bay
b. Pelican Bay and Golden Gate
c. Pelican Bay and Immokalee
d. All of the above

8. In the 1990s, a countywide tourist tax referendum was approved to bring the Baltimore Orioles to our area for spring training. That was appealed and fell apart. Which was the latest Major League Team to be mentioned, led by Naples officials, as a spring training target?
a. New York Mets
b. Pittsburgh Pirates
c. Baltimore Orioles again
d. Chicago Cubs

9. Collier County’s official full-time population stands at around 400,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. When did the population cross the 100,000 mark?
a. 1950s
b. 1960s
c. 1970s
c. 1980s

10. WNOG was the must-listen-to radio station for local news, starting with coverage of Hurricane Donna in what year?
a. 1955
b. 1960
c. 1965
d. 1975

11. Which anchor of WNOG (Wonderful Naples on the Gulf) hosted a hard hitting mid morning talk show with local newsmakers?
a. Phil Thomas
b. Susan Gardner
c. Carl Loveday
d. Joe Klimas

12. The Naples Beach Club Hotel & Golf Club stood as a centerpiece for local dining, special events, nightlife, golf, tennis and live music concerts headlined by:
a. free summer jazz
b. fall back jazz
c. winter wonderland big bands
d. spring forward sock hops

13. Before razing to make way for a resort with condos, the iconic Beach Club site was owned, expanded and managed by what family?
a. Smith
b. Carlton
c. Watkins
d. Athens

14. A scandal brought down the Collier County government policy and administrative leadership in 2001. In exchanges with public and private figures at the time, the key currency was found to be:
a. money
b. golf
c. travel
d. promotions

15. What was the public name of the scandal that included 10 criminal indictments?
a. Progress Collier
b. Stage One
c. Stadium Naples
d. MegaMax

16. In 1996, Jack Nortman paid homage to his Jewish Holocaust ancestors by tracking and refurbishing a European boxcar, which was brought to Naples and used for what purpose?
Only one answer here: An educational tool, based at the Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida.

17. In what single year did three local art/entertainment landmarks –Naples Art, Sugden Community Theater and Everblades Arena –open?
a. 1980
b. 1982
c. 1988
d. 1993

18. Collier Sheriff Kevin Rambosk held many city and county posts before becoming Sheriff,
which did NOT include:
a. County Attorney
b. City Fire Chief
c. City Police Chief
d. County Assistant Sheriff

19. Collier County, named for its business magnate founder whose ancestors remain in prominent private business posts, was carved from what county?
a. Lee
b. Monroe
c. Hendry
d. Glades

20. What organizational title is shared by local non profits dedicated to raising big money for education, children’s services and more?
a. Association
b. Champion
c. Foundation
d. Starter

Answers:
1.b 2.a 3.c (Kim Anderson-McDonald, Bonnie Mackenzie, Theresa Heitmann) 4.c 5.a 6.b 7.d 8.c 9.c 10.b 11.c 12.a 13.c 14.b 15.c 16. An educational tool, based at the Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida 17.d 18.a 19.a 20.c