2006's CCHOAA WINNER

The 2006  C. Colburn Hardy Award goes to Austin R. Curry of Best Practices ExCHANGE and Florida Department of Elder Affairs.

This year we honor another outstanding individual; a gracious gentleman whom we are told is always an optimist! His passion, commitment and knowledge of critical issues affecting Florida’s elders and their caregivers are said to be second to none. He is a native Floridian, a former corporate vice president of Equifax and an accomplished and thoughtful individual.

Austin Curry is well known in nearly all volunteer and civic organizations throughout the Tampa area. Equally important, beyond his Hillsborough County service, is his dedication to addressing issues that impact all of Florida’s seasoned citizens: the University of South Florida advisory boards focused on kinship care and health care, and the Florida Association of Healthcare.    

Austin is perhaps most widely known through his accomplishments as Senate President of the Florida Silver-Haired Legislature. He participates in as many public meetings and workshops as is possible, always discussing current issues of interest and concern to seniors. His regional and national interests related to older Americans have been exhibited as a member of the Southern Gerontology Society and at the 2005 White House Conference on Aging.

One of Mr. Curry’s Award nominators, Maureen Kelly, CEO West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging, said that Austin’s vision, commitment and passion for what he does and for what he wants to accomplish are just like C. Colburn Hardy's … and this recognition really “makes her smile!”

Austin Curry exemplifies C. Colburn Hardy's view that hopefully the projects in which he is involved will … "make the world a better place in which to work, to live, to love and to have our being.” That is what this Award is all about!