{"product_id":"the-rise-of-sarasota-ken-thompson-and-the-rebirth-of-paradise-9781609498344","title":"The Rise of Sarasota: Ken Thompson and the Rebirth of Paradise","description":"Ken Thompson served as Sarasota's city manager from 1950 to 1988, making him the longest-serving manager in United States history. During these years, Sarasota experienced a population explosion and an unprecedented modernization of city services. The city moved from a sleepy little town to an independent city with an identifiable economy. This period of growth gave residents a vastly improved bayfront that included Island Park and the Marina Jack development and saw the creation of the current city hall and the Van Wetzel Theater. In thirty-eight years, Sarasota moved from the Circus City to the multifaceted city it is today. Follow well-known Sarasota historian Jeff LaHurd as he recounts the sometimes controversial era of Sarasota's greatest growth.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLahurd, Jeff:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Jeff LaHurd is the author of several books of local history. His articles have appeared in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Style Magazine, The Sarasota Observer, SARASOTA Magazine, SRQ, and The Downtowner. LaHurd is a former board member of the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation and the Sarasota Historical Society.","brand":"History Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50492997927186,"sku":"9781609498344","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_0b545789-0819-4cf2-821b-e0767743e5b6.jpg?v=1730620904","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-rise-of-sarasota-ken-thompson-and-the-rebirth-of-paradise-9781609498344","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}