At Ybor City Museum State Park, there is a very pretty park across the street, and there were five markers around:
The first was a marker and a statue in honor of Anthony Tony Pizzo. He was a civic leader and historian.
Civic
leader and historian, Tony Pizzo, was born in the family home at this location
on September 22, 1912. Tony's pride in his community inspired him to research
and document history that would have been lost without his efforts. His
enthusiasm encouraged an interest by countless others to study and preserve our
history. Tony authored numerous articles and the book, "Tampa Town:
Cracker Village With a Latin Accent." He co-authored "Tampa, the
Treasure City" and participated in producing and appearing in the
University of South Florida television series, "Tony Pizzo's Tampa."
The USF library now houses his extensive research, artifacts and writings in
the Tony Pizzo Collection.
Tony served tirelessly as a board member of numerous local and statewide organizations. His accomplishments included serving as charter president of the Ybor City Rotary Club and as founding member and charter president of the Tampa Historical Society. He was the recipient of the Hillsborough County Bar Association's Liberty Bell Award and was selected as Tampa's Outstanding Citizen in 1957. Tony was instrumental in the placement of many of Tampa's historical markers. Ybor City's beloved storyteller served as official historian for Tampa and Hillsborough County for many years until his death on January 2, 1994.
Tony served tirelessly as a board member of numerous local and statewide organizations. His accomplishments included serving as charter president of the Ybor City Rotary Club and as founding member and charter president of the Tampa Historical Society. He was the recipient of the Hillsborough County Bar Association's Liberty Bell Award and was selected as Tampa's Outstanding Citizen in 1957. Tony was instrumental in the placement of many of Tampa's historical markers. Ybor City's beloved storyteller served as official historian for Tampa and Hillsborough County for many years until his death on January 2, 1994.
Anthony P. Pizzo was born to Italian parents in Tampa on
September 22, 1912. A graduate from Hillsborough High School, he demonstrated
early leadership abilities in organizing the Latin community's most popular
teenage social club, taking part in debate clubs and rallying behind the
Hillsborough High Terriers as head cheerleader. Pizzo studied for two years at
the University of Florida before transferring to Stetson University in Deland,
where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and studied law, education, and history.
Industrious at an early age, Pizzo sold newspapers on Ybor City's streets to earn spending money. At Stetson University, he worked his way through college by waiting on tables, working in the library and selling shoes. In college, he was elected into the Ye Mystic Krewe Fraternity, the most outstanding organization on the campus, membership in which is based on scholarship, leadership and honorary achievements.
A successful businessman after college, Pizzo was the Tampa agent for the Fidelity Mutual Life Assurance Company and served with the military at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland from 1942 to 1944. Then, back in Tampa, he started his own company, International Brands, and later went to work with Tampa Wholesale Liquors and the House of Midulla Inc. He was a founder and first president of the Tampa Bay International Trade Council; Ybor City
Industrious at an early age, Pizzo sold newspapers on Ybor City's streets to earn spending money. At Stetson University, he worked his way through college by waiting on tables, working in the library and selling shoes. In college, he was elected into the Ye Mystic Krewe Fraternity, the most outstanding organization on the campus, membership in which is based on scholarship, leadership and honorary achievements.
A successful businessman after college, Pizzo was the Tampa agent for the Fidelity Mutual Life Assurance Company and served with the military at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland from 1942 to 1944. Then, back in Tampa, he started his own company, International Brands, and later went to work with Tampa Wholesale Liquors and the House of Midulla Inc. He was a founder and first president of the Tampa Bay International Trade Council; Ybor City
Junior Chamber of Commerce.
He was the founder of the Tampa Historical Society and credited with the erection of more than 80 historical markers in Ybor City. Pizzo wrote several books, including Tampa Town 1824-1886 and The Italian Heritage in Tampa. He also coauthored Tampa-The Treasure City with history professor Gary Mormino of the USF
He was the founder of the Tampa Historical Society and credited with the erection of more than 80 historical markers in Ybor City. Pizzo wrote several books, including Tampa Town 1824-1886 and The Italian Heritage in Tampa. He also coauthored Tampa-The Treasure City with history professor Gary Mormino of the USF
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