Max Osceola Receives the 2005 Leadership Broward Award

By Jaime Restrepo

DAVIE, FL — Nov. 18, was a night of nights for Hollywood Council Representative Max Osceola. Leadership Broward Foundation, Inc. presented its 20th Annual “Profiles in Leadership” Dinner and Dance at the Signature Grand.

Osceola is joined by other honorees, including: Hollywood City Manager Cameron Benson, Senior Vice President and Editor of the Sun-Sentinel Earl Maucker, community leaders Alan and Marsha Levy and Superintendent of Broward County schools Dr. Frank Till.

This year’s theme, “Treasures of Broward” was selected to symbolize the involvement and dedication honorees have for their community. Their focus and leadership set the tone for others to follow and admire, thus coalescing the efforts of the community to make Broward County and the Seminole Tribe a better place to live.

Leadership Broward is committed to inspiring “excellence in leadership in Broward County by developing leaders and encouraging community trusteeship,” according to their website, www.leadershipbroward.org. Each recipient is chosen by virtue of their outstanding character and the leadership role they play.

Osceola began his evening with a limo ride to Signature Grand, where a VIP reception awaited him. Broward’s leaders and elite were in attendance. He displayed his usual happiness and exuberance as business and political leaders alike greeted him and offered their congratulations. But most important to him was sharing this momentous occasion with his family and friends, who were all in attendance, at his side.

The reception transitioned into the master hall with the assistance of staff dressed as Egyptian characters, who guided the dignitaries to their tables. The Reverend Dr. David G. Berry, the senior pastor at the First Presbyterian Church officiated as emcee.

After honoree introductions, each person took the stage to receive their Leader of the Year award. Shaped like a triangle, the award symbolizes strength and stability. It points upward to signify the vision and action of the leader. Thus, the award is a reflection of its recipient–strength, vision and action.

Upon receiving the award, each recipient addressed the audience with personal insights and recollections of the defining moments that made them who they are today.

Osceola is in his eleventh two-year term as Hollywood Council representative. Having been in office for more than 20 years has given him a unique opportunity to serve his people. He and his fellow council members have overseen immense economic growth for the Tribe and Tribal citizens.

He is steadfast in his support of youth programs and takes keen interest reverence in senior citizens, and the lessons and wisdom they have to offer. Health issues are a key concern of Osceola, citing how diabetes has taken its toll among his people.

Born in 1950, Osceola qualifies as a senior this year. He joins the ranks of his mentors, but demonstrates reverence and humility among them, citing the guidance they have offered him and the perseverance they have taught him. This was the keynote of his address to the audience as he received his award.

As far as money and wealth relate to each other, he summed it up in a witty, but concise way, “The Seminole Tribe has always been rich. It just didn’t have any money back then.”

He added, “Now we are in a position to help our people more, help our community more, and make good on what our elders have taught us.”

Osceola is the recipient of numerous awards and sits on boards of prestigious organizations in Broward County, notably the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs and Boys & Girls Club of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, as well as the State of Florida Governors Council of Indian Affairs. He is also an inductee of the Broward County Sports Hall of Fame as well as the Seminole Tribe of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.

In 2004, Osceola received the 2004 Silver Medallion Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice. “All in a day’s work,” he would say. A leader is also good with time management. Given the level of participation this representative enjoys, it is clear that Osceola demonstrated leadership qualities for quite some time.

A consummate sports fan, Osceola played football while attending McArthur High School. The team won its first conference title while he was a senior. Since graduating from the University of Miami with a degree in political science, Max has coached numerous youth athletic teams.

The Seminole and greater Broward communities have kept Osceola a busy man. He stressed the importance in giving back to his community, either personally or financially, and encouraging others to follow in his footsteps, and become tomorrow’s leaders. His ability to walk among two cultures has enabled him to represent the Seminole Tribe’s economic powerhouse while maintaining close cultural and spiritual ties with his people.