In a ceremony held on August 13, Sumter County paid tribute to a long-serving public servant by renaming the Sumter County Public Works Building to the Garry Breeden Public Works Building. The honor recognizes Breeden’s decades of dedicated service to the county and his lasting impact on the community.

According to a Facebook post by Sumter County, Garry Breeden began his career with the Sumter County Public Works Department in 1972, and by 1977, he had risen to the position of Director, a role he held with distinction until his retirement in 2004. Breeden’s commitment to Sumter County did not end with his retirement; he continued to serve the community by running for Sumter County Commissioner in 2006, a position he held until his retirement from the Board in 2022.

“Garry Breeden has been a public servant his entire life,” Craig A. Estep, Chairman of the Sumter County Board of County Commissioners, says. “Mr. Breeden’s military service on the national level and his dedicated state and local service to the people of Sumter County, showcased his integrity and character as he put others before himself. It is a privilege to rename the Sumter County Public Works Building in honor of Mr. Breeden’s dedicated service.”

Throughout his career, Breeden was known for his dedication, integrity, and unwavering commitment to public service. His contributions were recognized on a state level in 2021 when the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) awarded him the FAC Presidential Advocacy Award.

Breeden served on numerous boards and committees, including the Florida Association of Counties Trust (FACT), Medical Examiner Advisory Committee, East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Workforce Central Florida Consortium, Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council, Lake-Sumter MPO Governing Board, Public Safety Coordinating Council, Building Committee, Value Adjustment Board, and the Canvassing Board. His leadership and vision have left a lasting legacy throughout the state of Florida.

Photos provided by Sumter County