Background
Durrence, James Larry was born on August 22, 1939 in Glennville, Georgia, United States. Son of James Levy and Iona Bell (Groover) Durrence.
academic administrator history educator
Durrence, James Larry was born on August 22, 1939 in Glennville, Georgia, United States. Son of James Levy and Iona Bell (Groover) Durrence.
Bachelor, Florida Southern College, 1966. Master of Arts, University Georgia, 1968. Doctor of Philosophy, University Georgia, 1971.
Sales, inventory control staff, Hammond Electronics, Inc., Lakeland, Florida, 1959-1966; instructor history, Stetson U., DeLand, Florida, 1969-1970; assistant professor, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, 1970-1978; associate professor, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, 1978-1985; professor, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, 1985-1990; executive director, Taxpayers League of Polk County, Bartow, Florida, 1980; city commissioner, City of Lakeland, 1981-1989; executive director Florida taxation and budget reform commission, Florida Center Public Management Florida State University, 1990-1992; taxpayer rights and intergovernmental relations advocate, Florida Department Revenue, 1992-1998; president, Polk Community College, Winter Haven, Florida, since 1998. Reader, associate professor American History Ednl. Testing Svc., Princeton, New Jersey,1985-1990.
Mayor City of Lakeland, 1982, 86. President Florida League of Cities, Tallahassee, 1987-1988. Member Florida Advisory Council on Intergov.
Relations, Tallahassee, 1987-1988, State Job Training Coordinating Council, Tallahassee, 1984-1987, Crime Prevention and Law Enforcement Study Commission, Tallahassee, 1988-1989, Finance, Administration, and Intergovtl. Relations Steering Committee, National League of Cities, Washington, 1988, Committee for Study Substate District Boundaries, Tallahassee, 1986-1987, Florida Coordinating Council on Radon Protection, Tallahassee, 1988-1990, Center Florida Regional Planning Council, Bartow, 1986-1988, Economic and Workforce Development Commission American Association Community College, 1999. Board directors Florida Downtown Development Association, Tallahassee, 1985-1988, Florida Baptist History Association, DeLand, 1975-1978, Florida League of Cities, 1985-1988, Florida Trust for History Preservation, Tallahassee, 1988-1991, Girls Club of Lakeland, 1983-1986, Volumes Service to Elderly, 1986-1990, 99—, Tax Watch Inc., Tallahassee, 1980-1984, Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, 1982-1985, Special Olympics Polk County, 1986-1987, Lakeland Economic Development Council, 1986-1988, Polk Museum Art, since 1998, United Way Central Florida, since 1998, Polk Economic Education Council, since 1998.
Member Florida History Society (member finance committee 1988-1990, board directors 1989-1992, vice president 1992-1994, president 1996-1997), Southern History Association (member membership committee 1986), Florida Political Science Association, Ridge League Municipalities (president 1983), Ridge League Cities, Inc. (executive director 1989-1990), Florida Municipal Utilities Association (member legislation committee 1983), 1000 Friends of Florida (board directors Tallahassee chapter 1989-1990), Florida College Teachers of History (vice president 1989, president 1990), Southeastern Association of Tax Administrators (finance committee chair 1995, policy committee 1995-1998), Florida Supreme Court (steering committee on family law 1996-1998), Florida First Bank Corporation(board directors since 2000).
Married Connie Carefoot Durrence. Children: April Denise, Jeffrey Marshall.