Elected officials are always stepping into the line of fire when they take a seat at the Best of Marathon. But as much as we make jokes, it’s our honor to recognize the outstanding people who make Marathon such an incredible place to work, raise a family and run a business.
So while we’ll always sneak in a joke about John Dick, we’d be remiss if we left out the two decades he’s spent serving the Florida Keys as a member of our Monroe County School Board, retiring this year after his final term as board chair.
On Saturday night, Keys Weekly publisher Jason Koler and Marathon Rotary Club president Kelly Williams presented Dick with the Robin Tanner Public Service Award – the only special award given at our 2026 ceremony. The following are remarks made to honor John that evening:
John Dick has dedicated decades of his life to public service, education and the Marathon community.
A native of Brooklyn, New York, John moved to the Florida Keys in 1989 and quickly became deeply involved in the community he would come to call home.
A U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam, he continued his commitment to service in the Keys through veterans’ organizations, local civic groups and Marathon High School, where he worked as a college and career counselor.
In 2006, John was elected to the Monroe County School Board, beginning a 20-year tenure marked by his focus on fiscal responsibility, teachers’ compensation, improved school facilities and opportunities for students.
His many years of service to Marathon and Monroe County reflect a lasting commitment to his community and make him a fitting recipient of the Rotary Club of Marathon’s Robin Tanner Public Service Award.
