Letters to the editor

On March 14, 2013, Rollins College President Lewis Duncan read a Winter Park proclamation declaring “Barbara Drew Hoffstot Day.” Dr. Duncan proceeded to induct the late Barbara Drew Hoffstot into The Rollins College Walk of Fame, which includes such notables as Mr. Rogers, Maya Angelou, Harry Truman and Will Rogers. Thomas Edison got the idea for his “Friendship Walk” from The Rollins College Walk of Fame, which he admired while carrying the honorary doctorate he had just received from Rollins. It would be the last of his honorary degrees.

Barbara Drew Hoffstot was honored because her groundbreaking work in Pittsburgh was the model for The Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which created The National Register of Historic Places. Rollins’ Annie Russell Theatre, Rollins’ Knowles Chapel, and nine other Winter Park buildings have received the designation. Very significantly, Barbara Hoffstot spent many, many years working to improve the plight of minorities in inner cities.

Seven proclamations were read at The Rollins College Walk of Fame unveiling on March 14.

The one that should get your attention was the one initiated by Will Graves and signed by Mayor Ken Bradley...a near miracle given our past history with overdevelopment issues in Winter Park.

I was very touched by the gesture. For at least one day (and hopefully many, many more!), groundbreaking preservation accomplishment trumped special interests.

It was truly a healing proclamation for Winter Park, and I hope that all of you will join me in congratulating and thanking Mayor Bradley for his role in trying to heal what has been a deeply divided town in recent years.

• Will Graves