Lake Wales Honors Two Polk Pioneers: Robin Gibson and Sharon Horton Kurschner Day Declared

Lake Wales, Fla. — Two longtime Lake Wales residents are getting their own day on the calendar, courtesy of Mayor Jack Hilligoss.

Mayor Hilligoss signed proclamations declaring July 7, 2026, as both “Mr. Robin Gibson Day” and “Mrs. Sharon Horton Kurschner Day” in Lake Wales, honoring the two after they were named 2026 “Polk Pioneers” by the Polk County Historical Association.

The Polk Pioneer designation isn’t handed out lightly. To qualify, a citizen has to be 75 or older, have called Polk County home for at least 50 years, and sit down for an on-camera interview preserving their memories of life here — part of the Historical Association’s Oral History program, running since 1975.

Gibson, 89, has lived in Lake Wales for 60 years. He completed his hour-long interview in January. Watch Gibson’s full interview here.

Kurschner, 79, is a lifelong Lake Wales resident who sat for her interview on February 23, 2026, after being nominated by the Lake Wales History Museum, where she was already recognized as its Pioneer of the Year. Watch Kurschner’s full interview here.

Both were honored as 2026 Polk County Pioneers at the Historical Association’s Annual Meeting and Pioneer Luncheon on June 23 at Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland.

The proclamations put it plainly: the city and the Historical Association are “forever indebted” to both Gibson and Kurschner for sharing their life stories — six decades of Lake Wales memories, now preserved for good.

Sources:
City of Lake Wales, Proclamation — “Mr. Robin Gibson Day,” signed by Mayor Jack Hilligoss, July 7, 2026
City of Lake Wales, Proclamation — “Mrs. Sharon Horton Kurschner Day,” signed by Mayor Jack Hilligoss, July 7, 2026 Facebook, City of Lake Wales, https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1410672871085710&set=a.222225039930505 Polk County Historical Association, Oral History interviews, YouTube