Former Santa Rosa County Commissioner Don Salter was one of 15 veterans inducted into the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame this week. Governor Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet voted unanimously on the list of inductees for 2021.
 
A native of Santa Rosa County, Don Salter attended Troy State University and graduated with a Master of Science degree in management.
 
After graduating, Salter proudly served his country as a United States Army Paratrooper from 1965 to 1968. He earned the Bronze Star while serving with the 173^rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam.
 
After a 32-year career, Salter retired from Gulf Power in 2000. That same year Salter was first elected Santa Rosa County Commissioner. He served in that role until 2020.
 
Over the years, a focus of his service has been protecting and enhancing regional military installations, especially NAS Whiting Field. He provided the vision and leadership to help purchase several thousand acres of land to prevent development encroachment around local military bases. The NAS Whiting Field encroachment prevention program is considered “The Navy Model.” He served as chairman of the Santa Rosa County and Escambia County Base Realignment and Closure “BRAC” Committee for several years.
 
To honor his commitment to protecting the area’s military mission and economic development, the road leading to Whiting Aviation Park was recently christened “Don Salter Boulevard.”
 
Salter’s commitment to supporting veterans has also been unwavering. He served as chairman of the Emerald Coast Honor Flight, a program that’s sent nearly a thousand local World War II Veterans to their memorial in Washington at no cost to them. He is also the founder and current chairman of the Santa Rosa County Veterans Memorial Plaza and he worked to provide two free homes for local disabled veterans and their families.
 
“I am honored to be selected to the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame,” Salter said of the news. “I am honored to have served our Veterans as we can never do enough to show our appreciation to them.”
 
The Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame recognizes and honors those military veterans who, through their works and lives during or after military service, have made a significant contribution to the state of Florida through civic, business, public service, or other pursuits. It is not a traditional military hall of fame, as it focuses on post-military contributions to the state of Florida. A ceremony honoring the 15 inductees from the Class of 2021 is scheduled for April 27 at the state Capitol.
 

#     #     #