Name: Rufus C. Lazzell
Basin Board: Peace River
Term: First appointed Dec. 3, 2001. Currently in his third term, which expires March 1, 2009.
Occupation: Retired Brigadier General, U.S. Army
Town of residence: Punta Gorda
Hometown: Huntington, West Virginia
Reason you applied to be a Basin Board member: Community involvement
Most important water resource issue: Regionalism
Favorite restaurant in the District: River City Grill
Other boards, organizations or clubs you belong to: Lee County Port Authority’s Special Management Committee, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program’s Management Committee, Charlotte County YMCA Board of Directors, Boy Scouts of America Southwest Florida Executive Council, Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club, Charlotte Regional Medical Center’s Board of Trustees and the Hospital Institutional Review Board, Charlotte/DeSoto College Foundation board member, Charlotte County Cultural Center Board of Trustees, Punta Gorda Historic Mural Society board member, Florida Adventure Museum board member, Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, Punta Gorda Business and Community Alliance, Punta Gorda Kiwanis and The Retired Officers Association, Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association, Charlotte County Republican Club and the Charlotte County Republican Executive Committee.
Hobbies or sports: Going to museums
Motto to live by: Be respectful of others
Favorite movie or television show: CSI: NY
Favorite book: “Animal Farm” by George Orwell
What did you want to be when you grew up: A soldier
Your most influential role model: My father
Trait you find most overrated: Arrogance
Trait you find most underrated: Humility
Five most important things: Family, religion, citizenship, friends, health
Most important life lesson: “There is nothing more tragic in life than the utter impossibility of changing what you have done.” (John Galsworthy)
There is too much of what in the world: Terrorism
There is too little of what in the world: Kindness
Favorite childhood memory: Christmas Day
Favorite food: Pasta