The Hall of Distinction has been established to recognize alumni and friends of the college who, through their superlative achievements in professional and civic life and their continued support over the years, have brought honor to themselves, the community and SPC.
Jim Sirmons and Robert M. Menke were inducted into the Hall of Distinction on Wed., April 30, at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club in St. Petersburg. View the photo gallery from this year's event.
2008 Inductees
Jim Sirmons
2008 Outstanding Alumnus Award recipient
Former executive vice president CBS television network
Jim Sirmons, a 1937 graduate of St. Petersburg Junior College who went on to a long and distinguished career as executive vice president of CBS, will receive the school’s Outstanding Alumnus Award.
When Sirmons graduated from SPJC, he had every intention of pursing a law career. Instead, he turned a job at a college radio station into a very successful career in broadcasting, just as that industry was rolling out a new product – television.
After SPJC, Sirmons enrolled at the University of Florida. While there, he started broadcasting news and an afternoon radio show over WRUF, the college radio station.
“That job paid my University of Florida bills,” Sirmons said.
While he planned on going to law school, Sirmons instead accepted a job at a radio station in Cincinnati. That station was a CBC affiliate, and soon he was headed for New York, where he accepted a job as production supervisor at the network.
Promotion after promotion followed during Sirmons’ 60-year career at CBS. His last title was executive vice president of industrial relations. He did not retire until he was well into his 80s, and he remains active in various professional organizations. Sirmons is a resident of St. Petersburg.
Robert M. Menke
Founder and chairman of Bankers Financial Corp.
Robert M. Menke, a veteran of 45 years in all aspects of the insurance industry, is founder and chairman of Bankers Insurance Group Inc. and chairman of Insurance Management Solutions Group Inc.
He also is chairman of First Community Bank Corporation of America, a unitary savings bank and loan holding company that owns a company that operates First Community Bank, which has seven branch locations in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Charlotte counties.
Menke was named Insurance Man of the Year by the Florida Association of Domestic Insurance Companies in 1986. He is a member of the National Association of Independent Insurers, and is a director of Bankers Security Insurance Co., Bankers Life Insurance Co. and Bankers Insurance Co.
He was primary organizer of the Bank of Florida, St. Petersburg, and its parent, the Bank of Florida Corporation, which were formed in 1974. He served as chairman of the board of each company before they were acquitted by SouthTrust Banking Corp.
Menke has extensive timberland holdings. He also owns a hunting lodge on the timberland property.
Menke graduated with a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering from the University of Florida in 1956.
He is a past member of the St. Petersburg College Advisory Board; a member of the University of Florida President's Council; a member of the Florida Insurance Council, Inc. (FIC); a past member of the Alliance of America Insurers; a member of the Property and Casualty Insurance Association of America; a past member of the executive committee of St. Petersburg Progress; and a member of the Society of International Business Fellows.
Menke is a resident of Tierra Verde.
Photo Galleries
We hope you enjoy browsing through the photo galleries from recent Hall of Distinction dinners:
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