Robert Lee McKenzie
Encyclopedia
Robert Lee McKenzie was an entrepreneur, a real estate developer, a founder and first mayor of Panama City, Florida
, and an instrumental figure in the early history of Bob Jones University
.
. Following graduation from high school, he owned and operated a general store.
In 1902 McKenzie moved to the Florida Panhandle
and became joint owner of a naval stores
business with 75 employees. McKenzie was the first in the area to use the innovative and less wasteful “turpentine
cup” method for collecting pine tree resin
. In 1904 McKenzie purchased waterfront property on St. Andrews Bay and cooperated with other businessmen in developing the town that they called Panama City with the aspiration that it become a port of entry for goods arriving via the planned Panama Canal
.
After Panama City was incorporated in 1909, McKenzie was elected the first mayor. He also served two terms (1909-1913) as a representative from Washington County
in the Florida House of Representatives
. In 1913, McKenzie succeeded in his efforts to have Panama City named the seat of Bay County
, which he had also helped to create. During World War II, McKenzie served as Chairman of the Bay County Chapter of the Red Cross (1941-44) and as a member of the Selective Service
Board (1940-47).
when he conducted several tent-meeting campaigns in Panama City during the early 1920s. In the fall of 1925, after Jones decided to start a college in the area, he asked McKenzie for suggestions about possible locations and eventually chose a 2,500-acre peninsula on the bay, eight miles from Panama City and two miles from the hamlet of Lynn Haven
. The college charter was signed in the office at his home. After the college opened in 1927, McKenzie served on the Executive Board for the remainder of his life. The current BJU Dining Common is named “Dixon-McKenzie” in honor of McKenzie, his wife, and his wife’s sister, Mary Dixon, all of whom were financial supporters of the school.
In 1925 McKenzie enlarged the house, and many business and municipal meetings were held there.
In 1964, Panama City recognized McKenzie’s service to the community by renaming its city park, McKenzie Park. In 1986, his house
, across from the park, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Panama City, Florida
-Personal income:The median income for a household in the city was $31,572, and the median income for a family was $40,890. Males had a median income of $30,401 versus $21,431 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,830...
, and an instrumental figure in the early history of Bob Jones University
Bob Jones University
Bob Jones University is a private, for-profit, non-denominational Protestant university in Greenville, South Carolina.The university was founded in 1927 by Bob Jones, Sr. , an evangelist and contemporary of Billy Sunday...
.
Business and political career
McKenzie was born and reared on a farm in Macon County, GeorgiaMacon County, Georgia
Macon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 14,074. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 13,542. The county seat is Oglethorpe.-History:...
. Following graduation from high school, he owned and operated a general store.
In 1902 McKenzie moved to the Florida Panhandle
Florida Panhandle
The Florida Panhandle, an informal, unofficial term for the northwestern part of Florida, is a strip of land roughly 200 miles long and 50 to 100 miles wide , lying between Alabama on the north and the west, Georgia also on the north, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Its eastern boundary is...
and became joint owner of a naval stores
Naval stores
Naval Stores is a broad term which originally applied to the resin-based components used in building and maintaining wooden sailing ships, a category which includes cordage, mask, turpentine, rosin, pitch and tar...
business with 75 employees. McKenzie was the first in the area to use the innovative and less wasteful “turpentine
Turpentine
Turpentine is a fluid obtained by the distillation of resin obtained from trees, mainly pine trees. It is composed of terpenes, mainly the monoterpenes alpha-pinene and beta-pinene...
cup” method for collecting pine tree resin
Resin
Resin in the most specific use of the term is a hydrocarbon secretion of many plants, particularly coniferous trees. Resins are valued for their chemical properties and associated uses, such as the production of varnishes, adhesives, and food glazing agents; as an important source of raw materials...
. In 1904 McKenzie purchased waterfront property on St. Andrews Bay and cooperated with other businessmen in developing the town that they called Panama City with the aspiration that it become a port of entry for goods arriving via the planned Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
.
After Panama City was incorporated in 1909, McKenzie was elected the first mayor. He also served two terms (1909-1913) as a representative from Washington County
Washington County, Florida
Washington County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 20,973. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 22,299. Its county seat is Chipley, Florida...
in the Florida House of Representatives
Florida House of Representatives
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
. In 1913, McKenzie succeeded in his efforts to have Panama City named the seat of Bay County
Bay County, Florida
Bay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 163,505 . Its county seat is Panama City, Florida. The county is best known for its white sand beaches and crystal blue water, where large pods of dolphins swim year-round...
, which he had also helped to create. During World War II, McKenzie served as Chairman of the Bay County Chapter of the Red Cross (1941-44) and as a member of the Selective Service
Selective Service System
The Selective Service System is a means by which the United States government maintains information on those potentially subject to military conscription. Most male U.S. citizens and male immigrant non-citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 are required by law to have registered within 30 days of...
Board (1940-47).
Supporter of Bob Jones University
McKenzie met Methodist evangelist Bob JonesBob Jones, Sr.
Robert Reynolds Jones, Sr. was an American evangelist, pioneer religious broadcaster and the founder and first president of Bob Jones University.-Early years:...
when he conducted several tent-meeting campaigns in Panama City during the early 1920s. In the fall of 1925, after Jones decided to start a college in the area, he asked McKenzie for suggestions about possible locations and eventually chose a 2,500-acre peninsula on the bay, eight miles from Panama City and two miles from the hamlet of Lynn Haven
Lynn Haven, Florida
Lynn Haven is a city in Bay County, Florida, United States, north of Panama City. The population was 18,493 at the 2010 census. It has the smaller population of the two principal cities of the Panama City, Florida - Lynn Haven, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population...
. The college charter was signed in the office at his home. After the college opened in 1927, McKenzie served on the Executive Board for the remainder of his life. The current BJU Dining Common is named “Dixon-McKenzie” in honor of McKenzie, his wife, and his wife’s sister, Mary Dixon, all of whom were financial supporters of the school.
Personal life
R. L. McKenzie was a charter member of the First Baptist Church of Panama City and later transferred his membership to the Cove Baptist Church. In 1912, McKenzie married Belle Booth, the Panama City postmistress, who had built a house at 17 E. Third Street after the death of her husband, Dr. Charles Booth. Following Belle’s death, McKenzie married Blandford Dixon, a schoolteacher twenty-four years his junior; and he had two daughters by his second marriage.In 1925 McKenzie enlarged the house, and many business and municipal meetings were held there.
In 1964, Panama City recognized McKenzie’s service to the community by renaming its city park, McKenzie Park. In 1986, his house
Robert L. McKenzie House
The Robert Lee McKenzie House is a historic site in Panama City, Florida. It is located at 17 East 3rd Court. On August 21, 1986, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Robert Lee McKenzie was the first mayor of Panama City.-References:* at * ** **...
, across from the park, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.