Central Florida News
Buccaneers to Induct Simeon Rice Into Ring of Honor During Week 13 Game vs. Cardinals
TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will return to Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 30 for a 1 p.m. ET matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, presented by GEICO. The Week 13 game will serve as the team’s Ring of Honor celebration, honoring former defensive end Simeon Rice as the 16th inductee during a halftime ceremony.
Simeon Rice to Be Inducted Into Ring of Honor
Rice, one of the most dominant defenders in Buccaneers history and a key member of the Super Bowl XXXVII championship team, will be honored throughout the game. He will lead the team through the pregame Hallway Walk, and former head coach Jon Gruden will present Rice with his Ring of Honor jacket during halftime. The ceremony will be hosted by Gene Deckerhoff and include members of the Glazer family, Rice family, and fellow Ring of Honor inductees.
The team will also release a Mitchell & Ness Simeon Rice throwback jersey, available at the Buccaneers Team Store.
My Cause My Cleats Spotlight
Nearly 60 Buccaneers players, coaches, and staff will participate in the NFL’s annual My Cause My Cleats campaign, which highlights charitable causes selected by each participant. More than 40 organizations will be represented by customized footwear created in partnership with Stadium Custom Kicks. Now in its tenth year, the league-wide initiative features more than 1,800 participants over a two-week span.
Glazer Family Small Business Fund and Tampa Bay Chef Series
On Sunday, the Buccaneers will continue recognizing recipients of the Glazer Family Small Business Fund. This week’s spotlight features Brian Seymour, owner of the Anna Maria General Store, the only grocery and convenience store on the north end of Anna Maria Island. Following recent storm damage, Seymour and his team supported residents and local law enforcement with donated supplies. Funding from the Glazer Family Small Business Fund helped maintain payroll and inventory during recovery. The program has awarded more than $1.2 million across nearly 300 small businesses in partnership with eight regional chambers of commerce.
As part of the Tampa Bay Chef Series presented by Corona, Week 13 will feature Chef Suz Lara of LARA. Known for her bold, Latin-inspired cuisine, she will prepare a Picadillo Tartar—raw beef tartare mixed with sofrito, smoked olives, capers, and golden raisin mostarda, served on a Cuban bread crostini. The dish will be available in the Hyundai Club (Section 212), Stadium Club (Section 237), and main concourse (Section 108).
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ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — The Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association (CFHLA) hosted its 2025 Hospitality Gala on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort, recognizing outstanding leaders whose service and dedication continue to elevate Central Florida’s hospitality and tourism industry.
Nearly 1,100 CFHLA members, elected officials and community leaders attended the association’s premier year-end event. Honors presented during the evening included the Charles Andrews Memorial Hospitality Award, Lodging Member of the Year, Allied Member of the Year and Engineer of the Year.
CFHLA President/CEO Robert Agrusa, CFHLA 2025 Board Chair Chris Mueller, David Siegel Jr., Jacqueline Siegel, Daniel Siegel, 2026 Incoming CFHLA Board Chair Jon McGavin
The evening’s highest honor, the 2025 Charles Andrews Memorial Hospitality Award, was presented posthumously to David Siegel, founder, president and CEO of Westgate Resorts. The award was accepted by members of his family, including Jacqueline Siegel, David Siegel Jr. and Daniel Siegel. Named in honor of CFHLA’s first board chair, Charles Andrews, the award represents the association’s most prestigious recognition.
Siegel founded Westgate Resorts in 1982 with its first property built on an orange grove he owned in Kissimmee, Florida. Under his leadership, the company grew into the largest privately held timeshare company in the world and one of the nation’s largest resort developers, operating more than 13,500 rooms across 22 resorts in the United States. Prior to his passing in April 2025, Siegel announced plans to expand to more than 44 resort destinations under the VI Resorts by Westgate brand.
Throughout his career, Siegel exemplified the entrepreneurial spirit that helped transform Central Florida into a global travel destination. Westgate Resorts also became the largest private employer in the region.
Beyond his business achievements, Siegel was widely recognized for his philanthropic and advocacy efforts. He was inducted into the Central Florida Hospitality Hall of Fame in 2013 by the University of Central Florida and was honored earlier this year with the American Resort Development Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Following the death of his daughter Victoria in 2015, Siegel dedicated himself to combating the nation’s drug epidemic. He founded the Victoria’s Voice Foundation and advocated for expanded access to naloxone through congressional outreach and public education. A military veteran, Siegel also donated more than 28,000 complimentary vacations to members of the armed services. In 2025, the Westgate Foundation distributed $1.5 million in grants to community-focused organizations nationwide.
CFHLA also recognized several industry professionals for excellence and leadership:
Barb Bowden, area managing director of Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando, received the 2025 CFHLA Lodging Member of the Year Award.
Glen Lyons, president of ATMFLA Inc., received the 2025 CFHLA Allied Member of the Year Award.
William “Bill” Mathews, director of engineering at the Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort, received the 2025 CFHLA Engineer of the Year Award.
Together, these honorees exemplify the leadership, innovation and community commitment that continue to drive Central Florida’s hospitality and tourism industry forward.
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