The Orange Park Buzz

The Keystone Heights City Hall was filled with emotion on Monday, April 7, as longtime Councilman Tony Brown bid farewell to his three-decade career in public service. The special recognition ceremony brought together city officials, community leaders, and residents to honor Brown’s exceptional 30-year tenure dedicated to Keystone Heights. During the ceremony, Brown was presented with a commemorative plaque highlighting his achievements since beginning his service in 1996. The evening featured a procession of tributes from various community stakeholders who gathered to celebrate Brown’s lasting impact on the city.

The recognition event showcased the deep appreciation felt throughout Keystone Heights for Brown’s commitment to public service. Members from numerous civic bodies, including the City Council, Public Works, Heritage Commission, Planning and Zoning, and Airport Authority, were present to express their gratitude. The ceremony highlighted Brown’s extensive community involvement beyond his council duties, including his service with the local fire department and countless volunteer activities. Brown’s dedication to Keystone Heights was evident through the emotional responses from those in attendance, who recognized his tireless efforts to improve the community over his thirty years of service.

Mayor Nina Rodenroth led the tributes with a particularly moving presentation, revealing that she had gathered input from 31 citizens who each contributed one word that came to mind when thinking of Tony Brown. As a special memento, Rodenroth presented Brown with a unique family tree featuring the faces of community members throughout various events. “This is to say ‘thank you’ from all of us for your servant leadership from 1996 to 2025,” Rodenroth expressed, highlighting the remarkable timespan of Brown’s dedication to the city and its residents. The thoughtful gift symbolized the deep connections Brown had formed throughout his years of service.

The accolades continued as Miss Suzie Lubbock took the floor to express her personal gratitude to Brown. “I just wanted to take a minute to thank Tony for his many years of service to this community through the fire department, council and all the volunteering you’ve done,” she stated, emphasizing the depth of Brown’s contributions. Further recognition came from regional leaders as well, with the Northeast Florida legal cities adopting resolution number 2255-B1 specifically to honor Director Brown for his distinguished service on the board. This formal acknowledgment from neighboring communities demonstrated the wide-reaching respect Brown had earned beyond Keystone Heights’ boundaries.

As the evening progressed, Brown’s farewell speech became the emotional centerpiece of the ceremony. Having served as both councilman and mayor during his extensive career, Brown took the opportunity to reflect on his journey of public service and the changes he had witnessed in Keystone Heights over three decades. His remarks touched on key achievements, challenges faced, and the collaborative spirit that had defined his approach to governance. Those in attendance listened intently as Brown shared memories and insights gained from his unique perspective as a long-serving public official who had helped shape the community’s development.

Brown concluded his remarks with a heartfelt statement that captured the essence of his service philosophy. “To the citizens of Keystone Heights, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for trusting me as a councilman and as a mayor for all these years,” he said, his voice reflecting genuine emotion. The simple yet profound expression of gratitude resonated throughout the chamber, serving as a fitting conclusion to his distinguished career. As the meeting adjourned, attendees offered personal congratulations and well-wishes, marking the end of an era in Keystone Heights’ civic leadership and the beginning of Tony Brown’s next chapter.