As a member of Perdido Bay United Methodist Church I have known Don Huerta for some time and of course have seen him on his walks across the Pedido area for years. Don made the front page today in the Pensacola News Journal. Brian Kelly wrote the article.
Auctioneer is himself one of a kind
State's only blind auctioneer to preside over charity fundraiser
If you get your daily java fix at Mojo's Coffee Shop at the foot of the Theo Baars Bridge in Perdido, then you've probably exchanged small talk with Donald Huerta.
Or maybe you've seen him walking scenic Innerarity Point Road, negotiating his way with his red and white walking stick, moving steadily in the shadow of the live oak trees.
Huerta, 59, who lives on Gulf Beach Highway, is known to Perdido Key locals as "California Don."
A licensed auctioneer, he's founder of his own company, California Don Auctioneers. He's the only legally blind, fully accredited working auctioneer in the state of Florida.
He has auctioned farm equipment, boats, antiques and liquidations. Now, he is donating his auctioning skills for fundraisers in and around the Pensacola area.
On Saturday, he will stand behind the podium with gavel in hand for the Spring Fling Auction at the Perdido Bay Community Center, which benefits the center's youth programs.
Huerta, who lost his sight in 1984 after years of diminishing vision, blames his exposure to chemicals in the Vietnam War.
He spoke with the News Journal about his occupation and the challenges and rewards of being the only blind auctioneer in Florida.
See the entire article and Q and A with Don here: http://www.pnj.com/article/20100308/NEWS01/3080310
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