Biography
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Von Fraser was born in Doerun, Georgia on February 22, 1938. He was the eighth child born to Wallace and Sallie Fraser. He was raised in a large family in a small, rural town with a strong work ethic. Operating a telephone switchboard at age 12 on long, hot summer evenings and a paper route to boot kept this youngster very busy. On summer breaks he picked cotton, cropped tobacco and stacked peanuts. When questioned about stacking peanuts he replied, "Anyone who grew up in rural Georgia in the l950's can tell you what that means!" His love for conversing with people was inherited from his mother, Sallie. With her nine children gathered around the dinner table on Sundays, she enjoyed sharing stories of growing up in rural Georgia. When questioned why he talks fast, Von replied, he had to talk fast to get a word in edgewise with eleven people at one table.
In high school, Von was active in the Boy Scouts, Drama Club and Beta Club. He was voted "Mr. Senior" and "Most Likely to Succeed" by his senior class. Upon graduation, Von was unable to attend college due to family financial difficulties. He worked several jobs to ease the burden while saving for college.
He enlisted in the Army in 1961 where he served for three years. During his tour of duty, he served in the Fort Bliss Honor Guard who welcomed President John F. Kennedy to El Paso in the summer of 1963. During his tenure, he became a non-commissioned officer and supervised up to 15 men in the trainee pay section of finance and accounting.
After his tour of duty, he returned to Gainesville to attend the University of Florida and pursued a degree in business administration. He financed his college education by first becoming a street sales carrier for the Gainesville Sun and later becoming street sales manager. During his nine-year tenure with the Gainesville Sun, neither he nor his carriers ever missed a delivery deadline.
Von received his BSBA in accounting from UF in 1969. Later, he enrolled in graduate school at the University of Florida. In 1992 he received his Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of North Florida.
In 1977, he was hired by the Alachua County Clerk of the Court as a supervisor in Finance and Accounting. In that position he supervised the processing of as many as 10,000 accounts payable vouchers and handled a payroll of up to 2,500 personnel annually.
In 1981, he was hired by the Alachua County Tax Collector where he held the position of assistant tax collector, before being elected the Tax Collector in November, 2000. During the last 20 years, Von has assisted thousands of taxpayers with their tax problems. No tax payer's concern is too small or large for Von to give his utmost attention.
His willingness to help people led him to become involved in Habitat for Humanity where he serves on the Board of Direcors. In this position he has been able to assist many families to become first time home owners.
Habitat for Humanity, 1994-present; Member, Site Selection Committee, Member Board of Directors 1997-present
Crystal Lake Environmental Organization (CLEO), 1988-2000; President (1989-1991)
St. John's River Water Management District Upper Etonia Basin Advisory Committee, Member (1989-1991)
Timberway Homeowner's Association, 1985-1990; President and Vice-President.
Florida Credit Union; Member since 1975, Member of the Asset and Liabilities Committee (1995-1997), elected to the Board of Directors in 1997 - present (past chairman and Treasurer).
North Central Florida Credit Union (merged with First Credit Union); Member since 1978; Treasurer, 1980-1988 and 1991-1992; President, 1988-1990
- Member Gator City Kiwanis, 1980-2001
- Graduate Leadership Gainesville XXI, Member; Gainesville Leadership Alumni Association, 1993-present; Member Board of Directors 1997-present
- Member Florida Cattleman's Association, 1992-present
- Member Sierra Club, 1999-present
- Member UF Alumni Association 2000-present
- Member Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee, 1984-present; Treasurer, 1990-1992
- Member Alachua County Historic Trust, 1993-present
- Member International Right-of-Way Association, 1993-present
- Member IRWA Affiliate Chapter #77, 1993-present, Treasurer, 1995-1997
- Attends Trinity United Methodist Church
- Member League of Women Voters, 1990-present
- Member Florida Free Speech Forum, 1997-present
- Member Loyal Order of Moose #1140, 1983-2003
- Member 4 A's 2006-present
- Member Florida Blue Key 2004-present
- Member University City Lion's Club 2006-present
- Board Member Cotton Club 2005-present
- Board Member Bell's Nursery 2004-present
- Board Member and Financial Advisor Newberry Development Inc 2005-present
- Member Audubon Society 2004-present
St. John's River Water Management District Upper Etonia Basing Advisory Committee, Member (1989-1991)
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Biography
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Von Fraser was born in Doerun, Georgia on February 22, 1938. He was the eighth child born to Wallace and Sallie Fraser. He was raised in a large family in a small, rural town with a strong work ethic. Operating a telephone switchboard at age 12 on long, hot summer evenings and a paper route to boot kept this youngster very busy. On summer breaks he picked cotton, cropped tobacco and stacked peanuts. When questioned about stacking peanuts he replied, "Anyone who grew up in rural Georgia in the l950's can tell you what that means!" His love for conversing with people was inherited from his mother, Sallie. With her nine children gathered around the dinner table on Sundays, she enjoyed sharing stories of growing up in rural Georgia. When questioned why he talks fast, Von replied, he had to talk fast to get a word in edgewise with eleven people at one table.
In high school, Von was active in the Boy Scouts, Drama Club and Beta Club. He was voted "Mr. Senior" and "Most Likely to Succeed" by his senior class. Upon graduation, Von was unable to attend college due to family financial difficulties. He worked several jobs to ease the burden while saving for college.
He enlisted in the Army in 1961 where he served for three years. During his tour of duty, he served in the Fort Bliss Honor Guard who welcomed President John F. Kennedy to El Paso in the summer of 1963. During his tenure, he became a non-commissioned officer and supervised up to 15 men in the trainee pay section of finance and accounting.
After his tour of duty, he returned to Gainesville to attend the University of Florida and pursued a degree in business administration. He financed his college education by first becoming a street sales carrier for the Gainesville Sun and later becoming street sales manager. During his nine-year tenure with the Gainesville Sun, neither he nor his carriers ever missed a delivery deadline.
Von received his BSBA in accounting from UF in 1969. Later, he enrolled in graduate school at the University of Florida. In 1992 he received his Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of North Florida.
In 1977, he was hired by the Alachua County Clerk of the Court as a supervisor in Finance and Accounting. In that position he supervised the processing of as many as 10,000 accounts payable vouchers and handled a payroll of up to 2,500 personnel annually.
In 1981, he was hired by the Alachua County Tax Collector where he held the position of assistant tax collector, before being elected the Tax Collector in November, 2000. During the last 20 years, Von has assisted thousands of taxpayers with their tax problems. No tax payer's concern is too small or large for Von to give his utmost attention.
His willingness to help people led him to become involved in Habitat for Humanity where he serves on the Board of Direcors. In this position he has been able to assist many families to become first time home owners.
Habitat for Humanity, 1994-present; Member, Site Selection Committee, Member Board of Directors 1997-present
Crystal Lake Environmental Organization (CLEO), 1988-2000; President (1989-1991)
St. John's River Water Management District Upper Etonia Basin Advisory Committee, Member (1989-1991)
Timberway Homeowner's Association, 1985-1990; President and Vice-President.
Florida Credit Union; Member since 1975, Member of the Asset and Liabilities Committee (1995-1997), elected to the Board of Directors in 1997 - present (past chairman and Treasurer).
North Central Florida Credit Union (merged with First Credit Union); Member since 1978; Treasurer, 1980-1988 and 1991-1992; President, 1988-1990
- Member Gator City Kiwanis, 1980-2001
- Graduate Leadership Gainesville XXI, Member; Gainesville Leadership Alumni Association, 1993-present; Member Board of Directors 1997-present
- Member Florida Cattleman's Association, 1992-present
- Member Sierra Club, 1999-present
- Member UF Alumni Association 2000-present
- Member Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee, 1984-present; Treasurer, 1990-1992
- Member Alachua County Historic Trust, 1993-present
- Member International Right-of-Way Association, 1993-present
- Member IRWA Affiliate Chapter #77, 1993-present, Treasurer, 1995-1997
- Attends Trinity United Methodist Church
- Member League of Women Voters, 1990-present
- Member Florida Free Speech Forum, 1997-present
- Member Loyal Order of Moose #1140, 1983-2003
- Member 4 A's 2006-present
- Member Florida Blue Key 2004-present
- Member University City Lion's Club 2006-present
- Board Member Cotton Club 2005-present
- Board Member Bell's Nursery 2004-present
- Board Member and Financial Advisor Newberry Development Inc 2005-present
- Member Audubon Society 2004-present
St. John's River Water Management District Upper Etonia Basing Advisory Committee, Member (1989-1991)
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