I was told that Molly would of really liked us. Molly Ferrara was elected Alcaldesa (Spanish Municipal Magistrate) of Ybor City in 1954. She was a proud Yborite business woman and political activist and spokesperson for over 40 years. She passed away in 1979.

    The Distinguished Dedication Historical Marker is in Centro Ybor on 7th Ave. Her lists of accomplishments were brought to the Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council by family members, in which I am a board member back in August. She is the first woman to have this historic distinction on a marker in Tampa. She was Tampa’s first woman tax collector besides running her 40 year old Columbia Music & Appliance Store which was next to Czar’s on 7th is on her list of achievements.

    Ybor City Chamber of  Commerce’s  Anna Ramos told us that she had worked all through high school for Molly Ferrara at the Music store. ” She was a very good friend and boss.” she said.   Stop by and read all of her Ybor City initiatives.

    In attendance and speaking was  a very impressive line-up of Tampa leaders speaking. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Attorney Barry Cohen, retired Appellate Judge E.J. Salcines, YCDC Manager Vince Pardo, retired Tampa Tribune Photographer Tony Zappone (who also took the famous pictures of President John F. Kennedy in Tampa November, 1963), Tampa City Council Woman Mary Mulhern, Tampa City Clerk & HCHAC Chair Shirley Foxx-Knowles and family members.

    I love historic preservation and she was truly a historic preservationist, community friend and Tampa Bay leader.