Richard & Melanie Gonzmart Endowment

Richard Gonzmart is the fourth generation caretaker of the 1905 Family Of Restaurants, a five-generation family owned company in Tampa which includes Columbia Restaurant, Ulele, Casa Santo Stefano, Goody Goody, Cha Cha Coconuts and Cafe Con Leche Ybor City.

He and his wife, Melanie, recently established the Richard & Melanie Gonzmart Endowment, an annual scholarship endowment awarded based on the following criteria:
• The recipient must be a full-time student undergraduate at Saint Leo University at the University Campus;
• Must be a first-generation in college student;
• Must be at least a rising sophomore;
• Must demonstrate financial need as determined by the Office of Student Financial Services;
• Must maintain a G.P.A. of 2.5 or above.

Richard and Melanie were fortunate to receive Catholic educations from Sacred Heart Academy. He later attended Jesuit High School in Tampa, while Melanie attended Academy of the Holy Names.

“I am a testimonial to the value of a Catholic education,” Richard says.

Some of his earliest memories are of his first grade teacher at Sacred Heart, Sister Mary John, teaching how to plant tree seedlings in milk cartons to make things grow.

It was at Sacred Heart that Richard first learned the importance of helping others in need who might be struggling.

He vividly remembers during first grade that his mother, Adela Hernandez Gonzmart, had given him $20 to pay for tuition. Sister Mary John was talking about collecting money for the poor in Central America, so he gave her the $20.

Two weeks later, Sacred Heart called, telling Adela she was late with her tuition payment. The family had little money at the time. When she asked Richard what he’d done with the money he explained that, “No matter how much we’re suffering, somebody’s got it a lot, lot worse.”

It was at Jesuit that Father Kelly counseled him on the meaning of integrity. When he was recruited as a football player to visit a college that he had no intention of attending, Father Kelly asked, “Do you think that is the right thing to do?”

“I understood immediately that integrity is your most valuable asset. It has guided me since that day.

“A Catholic education grounds you. At Jesuit, the motto is, ‘Men for others.’ An education based in faith gives you the courage to be more.”

Gonzmart has been named as part of more than 100 awards. He has been officially named a Luminary, a Visionary and a Philanthropist of the Year as well as Father of the Year, Hispanic Man of the Year, Businessman of the Year, Alumni of the Year at Jesuit and Academy of the Holy Names, Outstanding Citizen of the Year and Tampa Police Citizen of the Year.

Gonzmart serves or has served on dozens of non-profit boards and organizations. He is passionate about the education of our youth and young adults and about finding a cure for cancer. His mother Adela co-founded the USF Latino Scholarship Fund.

Perhaps his proudest professional achievements came from beyond the hospitality industry.

In 2022, the University of South Florida granted him an honorary Doctorate Business Administration degree.

In 2016, Pope Francis recognized Richard with the highest recognition of the Catholic Church, the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice. It is currently conferred for distinguished service by lay people and clergy. The medal was established by Pope Leo Xlll in 1888.

In 1982, Gonzmart was appointed by President Reagan to the Selective Service Board, serving 20 years as chairman of Tampa’s District 30 until the mandatory retirement in 2002.

He has been inducted into six Hall of Fames:
• In 2018, the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) Hall of Fame;
• 2010 Academy of the Holy Names Athletics Hall of Fame;
• 2006 Florida Tourism Hall of Fame by the Florida Commission on Tourism;
• 2003 Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame;
• 2001 Florida State University Dedman School of Hospitality Hall of Fame;
• 2000 Jesuit Athletic Hall of Fame

Richard also is a three-time James Beard Foundation semifinalist nominee for Outstanding Restaurateur.

Richard’s great-grandfather started the world-famous Columbia Restaurant in Tampa’s historic Ybor City in 1905. Still 100 percent family-owned, it’s now the oldest restaurant in Florida. There are seven Columbia restaurants in the state. Other restaurant concepts include Casa Santo Stefano, Cha Cha Coconuts, Ulele, Goody Goody and Café Con Leche Ybor City, increasing the number of restaurants to 14 and brands to six.

Richard has been married to his high school sweetheart and first love Melanie since 1973. He loves telling the story of how they met.

Back in 1968, he was 15 years old and attended a Jesuit football game.

“Afterwards, I went to the dance,” he said. “I saw this beautiful young lady and asked my friend if he knew who she was.

“He told me to forget about her, she would never dance with me. I figured why not ask her. All she could do is say no. BUT, she said yes, we danced and that was it. Not another word spoken. A few songs later, I asked her again. Same results. My heart was smitten hearing her say ‘yes’ to dancing. It took until May 28, 1969 to finally meet her.”

Now married for more than 50 years, they have two daughters, Lauren Gonzmart Schellman and Andrea Gonzmart Williams. Andrea works with her father in the family business. He has five grandchildren: Twins Isabella and Michael, Maximilian, Alexander and Amelia, who represent the 6th generation.