Tallahassee Senior Services Celebrates Eight Superstar Citizens
2025 Silver Stars Radiate Positivity, Wisdom & Service!
May 13, 2025
Some of Tallahassee's most accomplished seniors were honored at the 23rd annual Silver Stars Gala on Thursday, May 8, at Florida State University's Dunlap Champions Club. Organized by the City of Tallahassee Senior Services, the community's premier senior recognition event was attended by more than 350 people.
The eight superstar citizens -- perhaps your friends, neighbors or even family -- were singled out for their positive outlook, active lifestyle and dedication to serving others since the age of 60.
"The 2025 Silver Stars honorees are exceptional servant leaders who have made extraordinary impacts on the lives of many in our community,” Mayor John Dailey said. “With a wide variety of award-winning programs offered at the Tallahassee Senior Center and a second location under construction, the City proudly supports our aging residents, keeping them active and engaged."
This year's Silver Star awards recipients are:
The Honorable Augustus D. Aikens Jr., 75, is a retired Leon County judge, for whom the Leon County Courthouse was named in 2024. He served on the bench longer than any Leon County judge—27 years. Aikens grew up on a farm in Madison, Fla., where he learned skills from his father, such as harvesting, raising hogs and cows, carpentry and plumbing – whatever was needed to keep the farm operating smoothly. Aikens knew he wanted to study law when he was just 10 years old, watching the Perry Mason courtroom drama on television with his grandmother. “Things were not always as they seemed,” he said. “The defendant seemed guilty but with diligent detective work, Mason would prove his client’s innocence. That appealed to me. I also liked how polished everyone looked in the courtroom.”
Dr. Ken Boutwell, 86, was born in Newton, Miss., on his parents’ dairy farm, where he grew up milking cows with his two younger brothers. Boutwell began his career in education administration, serving first as budget director in Gainesville at the University of Florida and later in Tallahassee as Vice Chancellor for Administration for the State University System. Boutwell helped found Capital Health Plan (CHP). He serves as chair of the board and encourages CHP to provide the best healthcare at the lowest cost. He is the author of two books that share how his faith helped him embrace compassion in the face of racism and bigotry. Boutwell said he inherited his work ethic from his father and his concern for others from his mother.
Dr. Joel Dawson, 86, was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. The lifelong educator was the first principal of SAIL High School. From there she served as Science Coordinator for Leon County Schools. Dawson found that she preferred teaching, leading workshops and encouraging teachers rather than being a principal, but over the years, she did both. As a principal, Dawson had a reputation for taking schools with low grades and helping them raise their standards. Dawson said her mom taught her to “leave it better than you found it,” and it has been her mantra her whole life. In retirement, Dawson volunteers in the community, participates in Life Exercise classes at the Tallahassee Senior Center and plays racquetball and pickleball.
Margaret Lynn Duggar, 80, was born in Pennsylvania and at an early age moved with her family to St. Augustine, Fla. An only child, Duggar credits her parents with giving her the confidence she would use throughout her long, successful career. At age 27, she became the first executive director of the Senior Society Planning Council, now Elder Care Services, overseeing the newly established Meals on Wheels program. From there, her expertise on aging issues was honed by serving as executive director of the Area Agency on Aging in the Big Bend and later as Florida’s State Director on Aging. Duggar said her work on writing a geriatric curriculum for FSU’s College of Medicine “changed lives for older adults in ways they wouldn’t be otherwise.” Duggar owns her own business and has no plans to retire. “Staying socially engaged is critical.”
Mary Randle Johnson, 77, is an avid volunteer in the Tallahassee community. Johnson, a member of the Tallahassee Senior Center’s Advisory Council, shares her enthusiasm and ideas to improve senior programming. Her interest began after attending the Woodville Lunch & Learns and taking fitness classes at the Woodville Community Center, offered through the Leon County Senior Outreach program. Johnson volunteers with the Southside program. The daughter of sharecroppers in the Mississippi Delta and the second of 9 siblings, Johnson is writing a book, and she recently shared her story, family photos and mementos with the Southside participants.
Gracie Leland, 78, was born in the Miccosukee Community, where her family has resided for eight generations. The ninth of 12 siblings, Leland remains a fierce advocate for the community she loves. Since retiring from the State of Florida’s Department of Family Services, Leland admits she is never bored. She is a member of the Tallahassee Senior Center Advisory Council, and she regularly attends the Miccosukee Lunch & Learns and senior fitness classes offered by the Leon County Senior Outreach program. Leland offers this advice to everyone, regardless of age, “Embrace change and innovation. Learn from your mistakes and do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
William “Bill” McKeown, 87, was born in Bainbridge, Ga., but he’s a fifth generation north Floridian. An only child, he grew up with his parents in a loving, multigenerational household that included grandmothers and aunts. Although it seemed crowded at times, McKeown’s mother always said, “Just suit yourself to your circumstances,” which he still views as good advice! When he retired after a 30-year State career with the Office of Comptroller and Department of Banking and Finance, his mother and wife “suggested” that he find something to do. McKeown began taking art classes at the Tallahassee Senior Center, starting with a pastels class, followed by watercolor. He has since exhibited and received awards locally, nationally and internationally, and McKeown competes in at least 10 art society competitions each year.
John Schmidt, 88, loves people. The Milwaukee, Wis., native enlisted in the Air Force at 18-years-old and met his wife, who was also in the Air Force, when they were stationed in Sacramento, Calif. After the births of their two children, the family moved to Melbourne, Fla., where they remained until he retired. His final job before retirement was working on a drone program at Harris Corporation for Lockheed Martin. Schmidt thought it was a fun job, but it didn’t compete with the opportunity to move to Tallahassee to help raise his first grandchild. After his wife passed, his daughter encouraged him to visit the Tallahassee Senior Center. He attended the Friends Connection group and found his home. “I can’t live without friends,” he said. Schmidt now serves on the Tallahassee Senior Center Advisory Council, volunteers at the monthly Senior Center Coffee Chat meetings and participates in fitness classes, among other activities.
See highlights of the 2025 Silver Stars Gala at Talgov.com/Photos.
To read the complete stories of this year's extraordinary Silver Star award recipients, visit TallahasseeSeniorFoundation.org. The Silver Stars Gala is presented by the Tallahassee Senior Center & Foundation, Capital Health Plan and other generous sponsors.
Tallahassee Senior Services is part of the City of Tallahassee's Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department. For more information on its programs and events, please contact the Tallahassee Senior Center at 850-891-4000 or visit Talgov.com/Seniors. You can also keep up to date by liking the Tallahassee Senior Center on Facebook.
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