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Humbled by honors, recipients share the credit

For their significant impact on Clearwater, they receive lifetime achievement awards.

By CHRISTINA COSDON, Times Staff Writer
Published October 11, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT Don Olson retired from Firestone in 1972 and moved to Clearwater to open his first retail tire and auto center. [Joseph Garnett, Jr. | Times] Don Seaton and his family developed, purchased and operated four hotels on Clearwater Beach, most notably the 90-room Clearwater Beach Travelodge. [Joseph Garnett, Jr. | Times]

BELLEAIR -Two businessmen whose long careers and civic contributions have had a significant impact on the Clearwater community were honored with the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement Award Wednesday.

The awards were presented to tire entrepreneur Don Olson and hotelier Don Seaton during a special program at the Belleair Country Club.

It was only the second time the awards have been presented. Auto dealer Larry Dimmitt, restaurateur Bob Heilman and hotelier Bernie Powell were the first recipients two years ago.

The award was created by the Mr./Mrs. Clearwater award committee to recognize individuals who deserve praise and public recognition for their commitment to making Clearwater a better place to live.

Born 84 years ago on a farm in Gowrie, Iowa., Don Olson graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. He worked 25 years for Firestore Tire & Rubber Co., working his way up from a management trainee to top sales executive in the country and a vice president.

He retired from the company in 1972 and moved to Clearwater to open his first retail tire and auto center at Court Street and Missouri Avenue.

"I retired on a Friday and on Monday was running the store at Court and Missouri," Olson said.

Over the next 18 years, he built his business to 40 stores in western and central Florida. He sold the company in 1990 to friend and business associate Larry Morgan.

Olson said he retired for good in 1992 and added, chuckling, "I'm so busy now I don't know how I ever had time to work."

The Island Estates resident said he is involved in a Fire-stone retirees club that he organized, serves on various community boards and projects and still attends auto conventions. He and his wife of 61 years, Dory, have enjoyed traveling quite a bit, he said.

Morgan, who presented the award to Olson, recalled the annual Christmas display at the Court and Missouri store that was inspired by the couple's daughter, Jan. Before her death in 1977, she reminisced about how she loved the Christmas windows in big department stores and thought they should have a similar display at their store.

Olson was inducted into the Tire Industry Hall of Fame in 1993. He is a past president of the Florida Tire Dealers Association and the National Tire Dealers Association.

He has lent his financial support to several organizations, including the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Morton Plant Hospital, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater Little League and Luther College.

Morgan said the soft-spoken and humble Olson was trusted, admired and motivated by those who worked with him.

He never uses profanity, Morgan said, "but when he says 'son of a biscuit,' you better watch out!"

In his remarks, Olson said, "It's the people, the people that worked for me and with me that deserve this as much as me. I want to say thank you. It's been wonderful."

Banker David Stone, who presented the award to Don Seaton, called him a driving force in the community for about four decades.

The 68-year-old Seaton was born in Albany, Calif., and graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in business management.

After three years managing the South Lake Tahoe Travelodge, Seaton, his wife, Nan, and their children came to Clearwater in 1965 to operate a small hotel they had never seen, the Travelodge in downtown Clearwater.

Noting that potential customers passed by his hotel heading for Clearwater Beach, Seaton purchased property on the beach, developed the 90-room Clearwater Beach Travelodge and sold the family's interest in the downtown Travelodge.

During the next two decades, Seaton and his family developed, purchased and operated three more hotels on Clearwater Beach, two inns in Glenwood Springs, Colo., and a resort in Crystal River and Badin, N.C.

Seaton's service in professional organizations included two terms as president of the Greater Clearwater Innkeepers Association, three terms as vice chairman of the Pinellas County Tourist Development Council and terms as chairman, treasurer, secretary and board member of the Florida Hotel & Motel Association. He also served as a regional governor and director of Best Western and vice chairman and chairman of the board of Best Western International.

His contributions to the community and civic organizations included terms as president of the Greater Clearwater Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Clearwater Beach, director of Morton Plant Hospital and chairman of St. Paul's School.

In accepting his award, Seaton said, "I think this award is backwards. I think it's me who should be thanking all of you."

Not yet retired, Seaton said he and his family are busy with the Crystal River Resort and the Badin Inn Golf Resort and Club in North Carolina. But he finds time to play a lot of golf, ski and snowboard. The family spends spring and fall at their Belleair home and summer and winter in Colorado.

[Last modified October 10, 2007, 21:20:49]