Lester Dailey Brings Viva Florida 500 to Life with ‘God and Gold’

This year, communities all over Florida are recognizing the significance of the 500^th anniversary of Juan Ponce de León's arrival on Florida's east coast, as well as Florida's rich heritage and diverse cultural history.  

Heritage Village is marking the milestone by housing a special exhibit through the end of the year. The exhibit entitled “For God and Gold” features reproduction weapons, nautical items, clothing, camp gear, religious items and other objects depicting everyday life during the ocean crossing and the subsequent exploration and colonization of Spanish Florida.

Lester Dailey is the man behind the exhibit. 

Dailey and his wife Judy can be often found volunteering at Heritage Village’s H.C. Smith general store. The 67-year-old Dailey is a semi-retired freelance journalist who lives in Largo.

Dailey says he first started working for the New York stock exchange in the 1960s before being drafted into the military. After serving his country, Dailey used the GI bill to enroll in college, earning a doctorate in law. He became a probate officer as well as a vice president in the banking industry. After moving to Florida, Dailey’s interest turned to early Florida history and the exploration of the “new world” by Spaniard Juan Ponce de Leon. He began collecting artifacts, mostly late 19th and early 20th century reproductions of 16th century Spanish items, since real artifacts are extremely hard to come by.

Seven years ago, he put together a Ponce de Leon exhibit “For God and Gold,” which is now featured at Heritage Village. The title comes from the Spaniards’ desire to convert the native people they encountered to Catholicism. The “gold” stemmed from their desire to discover riches to take back to Spain: gold, silver, diamonds and other valuable minerals. “For God and Gold” has been displayed locally at such places as the Indian Rocks Beach Museum, Dunedin Historical Museum and the Armed Forces History Museum in Largo.

Dailey and Judy have been long-time volunteers at the village, Judy since 2001 and Dailey since 2006. Together, they have put in more than 2,600 volunteer hours so far.

Pinellas County volunteers can expect to make a difference in the life of their community, while exploring interests, sharing knowledge, assisting others and making friends. For more information, visit www.pinellascounty.org/volunteer, email volunteers@pinellascounty.org or call (727) 464-VIPS(8477).