Resolution 521-1998
Mayor Emeritus Wilhelmina Harvey
RESOLUTION NO.
521
-1998
A RESOLUTION IN RECOGNITION OF
THE LATE HAROLD "HAL" WALSH. JR.
WHEREAS, Harold "Hal" Walsh, Jr, a great friend and benefactor of Key West, passed
away unexpectedly at the age of 55; and
WHEREAS, Hal a New York stockbroker, and passionate history buff, moved to Key
West in 1993 and began volunteering for the Little White House Museum; and
WHEREAS, Hal was a local columnist for the Key West Citizen, a civic leader and, as of
1995, became director of the Little White House Museum in Key West; and
WHEREAS, Mary Drettmann, who cofinanced the refurbishing of the museum with her
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husband, Henry Drettmann, said Hal wanted to bring back dignity to the pr!tJ~~c'fi!Pn~
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WHEREAS, Hal added new events to the institution's calendar eag~ar,:::JJlV~ed
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Monroe County children in the museum by organizing a reenactment of Tr~'s ~e~g-
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in ceremony, and, as one of his greatest moments, had former President glmfity ~rtSlOfor
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dinner at the Little White House on New Year's Eve in 1996; and
WHEREAS, Hal was an active member of the Lambda Democrats, helped start the
Key West Gay and Lesbian Center on Duval Street, and founded one of the center's first
groups, the 4gers, a social club for older gays and lesbians on the island; and
WHEREAS, close friend, Denison Tempel, described Hal as being a "lovable
curmudgeon.., who had a mind that was investigative on every level and someone who
added intellectual richness to one's daily life;" and
WHEREAS, Hal was a highly regarded member of the Florida Keys community, and
was well known for his love of his two cocker spaniels, Savannah and Sachem, history, and
politics; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY,
FLORIDA:
Section 1, The Board hereby adopts this Resolution as evidence of its regret and
mourning for the passing of the late Harold "Hal" Walsh, Jr, and in recognition of his extensive
dedication and vast public service to the people of Key West and Monroe County,
Section 2, The Board hereby requests the Clerk to forward copies of this Resolution
to his beloved family to express the Board's sorrow,
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 9th day of December, 1998,
Mayor Wilhelmina Harvey
-- CO'TImissioner Shirley Freeman
Commissioner George Neugent
Commissioner Mary Kay Reich
Commissioner Nora Williams
absent
yes
yes
yes
yes
L. KOLHAGE, Clerk
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
BYc:S~!~
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Deputy Clerk C)
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