[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13157]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF RON LEGLER

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                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2014

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, 
Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Ron Legler.
  Ron is President and CEO of Florida Theatrical Association (FTA). Of 
his many accolades, Ron was recently recognized as Orlando Business 
Journal's Most Influential Businessman (Non-Profit) and the Downtown 
Orlando Partnership's Downtowner of the Year (DOTY). The Metropolitan 
Business Association of Orlando also awarded him the Debbie Simmons 
Community Service Award in 2013.
  Ron is extremely active in the Orlando community. He serves as a 
Mayor-appointed Board Member of See Art Orlando. He is also a member of 
Leadership Orlando--Class of 55 and the Broadway League. Ron has 
previously served as an Arts Groups Advisory Board member at the 
Downtown Performing Arts Center, Vice President of the Central Florida 
Performing Arts Alliance, Chairman of the Downtown Arts District, Vice 
President of the Central Florida Performing Arts Alliance, and Vice 
Chairman of Orlando's International Fringe Festival.
  Aside from his work with FTA, Ron has helped to spearhead the 
revitalization of the South Eola district of downtown by purchasing 
25,000 square feet of space in The Sanctuary. Ron developed new offices 
in this space and opened two amazing new entertainment venues, The 
Abbey and The MEZZ. He formed a partnership with the surrounding 
businesses and branded the new area ``Eola Square.'' Ron has worked 
with the Orlando Ballet, Orlando Philharmonic and the Central Florida 
Jazz Society to develop intimate programs in The Abbey and The MEZZ 
that attract new patrons and give donors a closer look into the 
artistic side of the organizations, all in a risk-free rental 
environment.
  In his more than 13 years as the leader of FTA, Ron has doubled the 
number of season ticket holders, making Orlando one of the country's 
top one-week Broadway markets. He also works with Broadway producers to 
attract the best possible touring shows to the Orlando market.
  I am happy to honor Ron Legler, during LGBT Pride Month, for his work 
to further the arts in Central Florida.

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