Former County Commissioner Bruce Host died early Sept. 26 surrounded by family.
“He was a true gentleman, always treated everyone with the utmost respect,” said County Administrator Vince Long as he reminisced about his good friend.
Long said he spoke to one of Host’s daughters who confirmed her father’s death. She told him her father was sharp as a tack up until the time he passed on.
Born in 1939, Host grew up in Ashland, Kentucky, his life of service began early when he joined the Boy Scouts and became an Eagle Scout. During his time he earned the God and Country Award, was inducted into the Order of the Arrow and received the Explorer Silver Award.
In high school, Host became the commander of the Army Junior ROTC battalion serving as a pipeline for him to enlist in the Kentucky National Guard.
He graduated from high school in 1958, and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he would rise to the rank of colonel. During his time he worked as a pilot and navigator, served in the Vietnam War, attended Naval War College in Rhode Island, received a Master’s Degree from George Washington University, even working at the Pentagon and the National War College in Washington, D.C.
After 22 years of active service, Host retired from the Air Force in 1981 with several awards and achievements such as the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Host’s involvement in local government
In his retirement, Host settled down in Tallahassee, where he quickly became involved with the community serving on a homeowners association and involving himself in his neighborhood. While living in town he became frustrated with lack of action by local government leading to his campaign for county commissioner.
He served from 1992 until 2000, during his two terms Host advocated for the widening of Thomasville Road, construction of a Publix on Bradfordville Road, a full service fire station in his district as well as a permanent Northeast Branch Library.
“He was just really focused on, you know, a strong county that was very responsive to its citizens,” Long said. “He represented the county so well because of who he was and how he treated people.”
Long said he met Host early on in his career when he still worked as a policy analyst writing agenda items. At the time the county did not have as large of a staff as it does today. That fostered tightknit relationships, such as the one Long had with Host that extended beyond the courthouse.
County Commissioner Rick Minor took to social media to express his condolences: “It is with great sadness to learn of the passing of former Leon County Commissioner Bruce J Host… he championed key projects in our community’s northeast.”
In his post Minor says that the county will lower the county flag to half mast for 10 days, per protocol.
In 2023, Leon County honored host by renaming the Northeast Branch Library to the Bruce J. Host Northeast Branch Library.
“Commissioner Brian Welch reengaged with the family and brought that naming to the commission,” Long said. “It couldn’t have been more well received when he brought it up. It was an easy decision for everyone.”
After his time in office, Host stayed busy and was appointed to serve as the Florida State Director for the Selective Service System in 2021.
His most proudest achievement was founding the Florida Veteran’s Hall of Fame, which was supported by the state government. He learned of the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame and recognized a need in the statewide military community to champion the value of military experience and its transference into the real world.
The Florida Veterans Hall of Fame is still active and accepting nominees, boasting 121 members as of 2021, according to their website.
Arianna Otero is the trending and breaking news reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact her via email at AOtero@tallahassee.com and follow her on X: @ari_v_otero.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Former Leon County Commissioner Bruce J. Host remembered as ‘true gentleman’
Reporting by Arianna Otero, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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