Barbara B. Mann turns 100

Barbara B. Mann

Lee County’s leading lady of the arts celebrated a milestone. Barbara B. Mann turned 100 years old.

She celebrated at a performance of Catch Me if You Can, in the theater named after her. Her son, Frank Mann, now a county commissioner and former state senator helped lobby to build the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in the 80′s

In 1948, Mann founded the Fort Myers Community Concert Association. It brings 5 major international concerts to Lee County a year..

In the last 60 years, Mann has built up theater in Southwest Florida, bringing in hundreds of shows to the area, along with a sense of culture.

And now that Mann’s 100 — her next goal is to be on the Today Show in Willard Scott’s

centennial birthday segment.