Lake County to remove former sherriff's name from street name

Lake County commissioners voted unanimously this morning to strip the name of the notorious former Sheriff Willis V. McCall from a county road near Umatilla.

[goodriddens]

How anyone supports this guy is insane...great move Lake County. "Handcuffed" black men killed with their cuffs on...

[Orlando Homegrown]

Well I'm terribly relieved to know that now that Macall's name has been removed off SR450A that the black population will be able to sleep at night and can begin the long process of "Closure" that they have had to live with out since 1985!

[its about time]

I can't believe as recently as 1985 that the street was even named in his dubious so-called "honor."

McCall was a notorious Klansman. My parents lived in Leesburg back in the '40s-'50s and everyone back then knew all about McCall's real agenda.

As for his son complainign about it -- deal with it. I don't care how many boards your father sat on or what good work he may have done otherwise. That's like trying to canonize Hitler because in between his busy Holocaust duties, he managed to do a few good deeds here or there.

[Gloom and Doom]

What will the new name be? I have several suggestions that are not fit to print.

[BAH BAH BAH]

THE APPLE DOESNT FELL FAR FROM THE TREE . WHAT HE'S SON SHOULD OF BE DOING IS THIS . DO SOME GREATER DEED SO SOCIETY CAN JUDGE HIM DIFFERENTLY . BUT AGAIN COMING FROM A FAMILY LIKE THAT WILL BE SO VERY HARD TO DO .

[trw]

Who cares what the name of a road is? If I lived on Adolph Hitler Ln. it wouldn't bother me, a name is a name.

Klansman, murderer, racist? I believe McCall was all these things. But he IS a part of Lake Co. history like it or not. And he was sheriff in the 1940s when times were very very different.

I would think residents black and white would be more relieved to know that in 50+ years things have changed SO much that nothing McCall did would ever be tolerated today. That's more of a victory than a road name. Remember, McCall may have pulled the trigger, but if you read the history of the incident 100s of Lake Co residents (white) acted just as horribly as McCall did in other ways.

I just don't believe that erasing or forgetting history is any kind of tribute to the victims.

You really want to make me mad? Name a road after Sheriff George Knupp!

[Double D]

Gloom and Doom wrote:

What will the new name be? I have several suggestions that are not fit to print.

Martin Luther King Blvd. Its always Martin Luther King Blvd!

[RAINMAN]

"dark figure"?

[Florida LEO]

trw, here's a history update for you. McCall was Sheriff of Lake County up until 1972, when he lost the election and this, after kicking Tommy Vickers to death in his jail cell. I grew up in Leesburg during the 60's and 70's and Willis McCall has left a tarnished image that may never be erased. Kudos to the Commission for removing his name.

As far as McCall acting like other residents, he wasn't another "resident". He was the chief law enforcement officer in Lake County and had a duty to uphold the law equally, regardless of one's color. Yes, there were many who acted like him but there were many who also did the right thing. He wasn't one of them.

[frank]

mohammed wrote:

say what you like about hitler but
he kept the trains running on time!

that was benito mussolini

[trw]

Thanks for the history lesson. All I'm saying is, he was elected by the citizens of Lake Co who, at that time, voted for him BECAUSE of how he was. The majority wanted a racist sheriff. He represents the people who voted for him and the incident could not have occured without their full support. He didn't lose an election until the attitudes of the citizens changed, and thank God they did. OK then, we have made improvements in the last 30+ years instead of 50+ years if that is more accurate for you.

I am a lifelong Lake Co resident and have read up on the shooting incident involving McCall. I have met some of the people involved including the white woman who was supposedly raped (turns out she wasn't) and some of the black residents who also suffered at the hands of other people carrying out the mob mentality of the time. Horrible as it is, it's still history.

I think this should be taught in school as local history so we can avoid repeating it. How does it justify the victim's to ignore that it ever happend?

If the road must be renamed, fine name it after the man McCall murdered to signify the changing attitude of the county.

[LAP]

RAINMAN wrote:

"dark figure"?

Good catch of irony.

[southsidedavie68]

sad, sad, sad. Pulling the race card again. whats next?

[Jess B Real]

Pulling the race card? You're darned right! That's what you do when race really is the issue!! And with McCall, it was!!

[no-pity-4--trash]

McCall was scum of the earth--the only thing his name deserves is for his grave to be p-ss-d on.

[Bud]

Willis McCall was a part of the history of Lake County and elected by the majority of voters of Lake County, so why don't people get over this white and black mentality and move on. I just have to say the board of County Commissioners are a group of gutless wonders trying to be politically correct!!

[UncommonSense]

mohammed wrote:

say what you like about hitler but
he kept the trains running on time!

There is a one way train ride to hell for you, soon

[Politically Minded]

Bud wrote:

Willis McCall was a part of the history of Lake County and elected by the majority of voters of Lake County, so why don't people get over this white and black mentality and move on. I just have to say the board of County Commissioners are a group of gutless wonders trying to be politically correct!!

In your infinite wisdom you explained why the county commissioners did what they did. The MAJORITY as you say voted McCall into office and then he did what he did. The present day current MAJORITY voted the county commissioners of the current day into office. If they enjoy the seats they fill, they will most certainy be politically correct. Why you ask? That's what the people want and they see the writing on the wall if they don't do the will of the MAJORITY.

[NO PC GUY]

SO WE STRIP THE NAME OF A FINE LAWMAN FROM A ROADNAME. FOR GOODNESS SAKE HE SHOT TWO ESCAPING RAPISTS!! MAYBE WE SHOULD NAME A ROAD AFTER THE CRIMINALS NOW!!!

[LTD]

trw wrote:

Who cares what the name of a road is? If I lived on Adolph Hitler Ln. it wouldn't bother me, a name is a name.

Really? Really. If a name is a name, then you wouldn't mind if I called you a $&@!. Right?