William Leon Noel, an original member of the St. Petersburg Civitan Club and a leader in the creation of Bartlett Park Recreation Center, died Saturday, Dec. 25, 1999 at the age of 91. Known locally as "Mr. Civitan," Mr. Noel was regarded as a man of honesty and compassion.
"He was a person of integrity," said the Rev. Lona K. Krosnick, his daughter. "If he told you something, you could take it to the bank."
Born Dec. 24, 1908, in Valparaiso, Ind., Mr. Noel was stricken with polio at age 1 and walked with a cane or braces most of his life. "Nobody even realized his physical disabilities because they were so taken by his strong personality and community leadership," Krosnick said.
At a young age, Mr. Noel became a bit of a local celebrity. He was born on Christmas Eve, and his parents named him in the spirit of the holiday season: His middle name "Leon" was "Noel" spelled backward. Robert L. Ripley heard about it and included him in his book Ripley's Believe It or Not.
"Mr. Ripley sailed into town on his Chinese junk (bamboo ship) and took him on the city lunch circuit with the cross-eyed cat," Krosnick said. "Daddy was quite the talk about town."
He came here in 1919 from Jamestown, N.D., and became co-owner of Noel and Peterson Motors. He was a graduate of the University of Florida, where he was a member of Beta Kappa and later served as a Gator Booster. He was also a teacher at Florida Military Academy, on the grounds of the Stetson University College of Law, and a member of Pasadena Community Church, where he served as treasurer for 21 years and chairman of the board of stewards for six years.
In his time with the St. Petersburg Civitan Club, he served as past president and past trustee. He represented St. Petersburg in Civitan International as vice president and treasurer. He was also a member of Future Floridians, which led the project to build the Bartlett Park complex. He was past president of the St. Petersburg Automobile Dealers Association and served nine years on the board of All Children's Hospital. He was a 56-year member of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. He was also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Chapter 1224.
"Daddy knew St. Petersburg when it was a sleepy little village," Krosnick said. "He helped and watched it grow into the booming city it is today." Krosnick is Noel's sole survivor.
Lona Krosnick was born Lona Kathleen Noel May 15, 1943 and lived at 5007 Imperial Palm Drive #5007 in Largo, Pinellas County, Florida. Her voter ID number was 117117500. She registered to vote in Largo 4 October 2008 and was registered in the Republican Party of Florida.
"He was a person of integrity," said the Rev. Lona K. Krosnick, his daughter. "If he told you something, you could take it to the bank."
Born Dec. 24, 1908, in Valparaiso, Ind., Mr. Noel was stricken with polio at age 1 and walked with a cane or braces most of his life. "Nobody even realized his physical disabilities because they were so taken by his strong personality and community leadership," Krosnick said.
At a young age, Mr. Noel became a bit of a local celebrity. He was born on Christmas Eve, and his parents named him in the spirit of the holiday season: His middle name "Leon" was "Noel" spelled backward. Robert L. Ripley heard about it and included him in his book Ripley's Believe It or Not.
"Mr. Ripley sailed into town on his Chinese junk (bamboo ship) and took him on the city lunch circuit with the cross-eyed cat," Krosnick said. "Daddy was quite the talk about town."
He came here in 1919 from Jamestown, N.D., and became co-owner of Noel and Peterson Motors. He was a graduate of the University of Florida, where he was a member of Beta Kappa and later served as a Gator Booster. He was also a teacher at Florida Military Academy, on the grounds of the Stetson University College of Law, and a member of Pasadena Community Church, where he served as treasurer for 21 years and chairman of the board of stewards for six years.
In his time with the St. Petersburg Civitan Club, he served as past president and past trustee. He represented St. Petersburg in Civitan International as vice president and treasurer. He was also a member of Future Floridians, which led the project to build the Bartlett Park complex. He was past president of the St. Petersburg Automobile Dealers Association and served nine years on the board of All Children's Hospital. He was a 56-year member of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. He was also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Chapter 1224.
"Daddy knew St. Petersburg when it was a sleepy little village," Krosnick said. "He helped and watched it grow into the booming city it is today." Krosnick is Noel's sole survivor.
Lona Krosnick was born Lona Kathleen Noel May 15, 1943 and lived at 5007 Imperial Palm Drive #5007 in Largo, Pinellas County, Florida. Her voter ID number was 117117500. She registered to vote in Largo 4 October 2008 and was registered in the Republican Party of Florida.
William Leon Noel, an original member of the St. Petersburg Civitan Club and a leader in the creation of Bartlett Park Recreation Center, died Saturday, Dec. 25, 1999 at the age of 91. Known locally as "Mr. Civitan," Mr. Noel was regarded as a man of honesty and compassion.
"He was a person of integrity," said the Rev. Lona K. Krosnick, his daughter. "If he told you something, you could take it to the bank."
Born Dec. 24, 1908, in Valparaiso, Ind., Mr. Noel was stricken with polio at age 1 and walked with a cane or braces most of his life. "Nobody even realized his physical disabilities because they were so taken by his strong personality and community leadership," Krosnick said.
At a young age, Mr. Noel became a bit of a local celebrity. He was born on Christmas Eve, and his parents named him in the spirit of the holiday season: His middle name "Leon" was "Noel" spelled backward. Robert L. Ripley heard about it and included him in his book Ripley's Believe It or Not.
"Mr. Ripley sailed into town on his Chinese junk (bamboo ship) and took him on the city lunch circuit with the cross-eyed cat," Krosnick said. "Daddy was quite the talk about town."
He came here in 1919 from Jamestown, N.D., and became co-owner of Noel and Peterson Motors. He was a graduate of the University of Florida, where he was a member of Beta Kappa and later served as a Gator Booster. He was also a teacher at Florida Military Academy, on the grounds of the Stetson University College of Law, and a member of Pasadena Community Church, where he served as treasurer for 21 years and chairman of the board of stewards for six years.
In his time with the St. Petersburg Civitan Club, he served as past president and past trustee. He represented St. Petersburg in Civitan International as vice president and treasurer. He was also a member of Future Floridians, which led the project to build the Bartlett Park complex. He was past president of the St. Petersburg Automobile Dealers Association and served nine years on the board of All Children's Hospital. He was a 56-year member of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. He was also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Chapter 1224.
"Daddy knew St. Petersburg when it was a sleepy little village," Krosnick said. "He helped and watched it grow into the booming city it is today." Krosnick is Noel's sole survivor.
Lona Krosnick was born Lona Kathleen Noel May 15, 1943 and lived at 5007 Imperial Palm Drive #5007 in Largo, Pinellas County, Florida. Her voter ID number was 117117500. She registered to vote in Largo 4 October 2008 and was registered in the Republican Party of Florida.
"He was a person of integrity," said the Rev. Lona K. Krosnick, his daughter. "If he told you something, you could take it to the bank."
Born Dec. 24, 1908, in Valparaiso, Ind., Mr. Noel was stricken with polio at age 1 and walked with a cane or braces most of his life. "Nobody even realized his physical disabilities because they were so taken by his strong personality and community leadership," Krosnick said.
At a young age, Mr. Noel became a bit of a local celebrity. He was born on Christmas Eve, and his parents named him in the spirit of the holiday season: His middle name "Leon" was "Noel" spelled backward. Robert L. Ripley heard about it and included him in his book Ripley's Believe It or Not.
"Mr. Ripley sailed into town on his Chinese junk (bamboo ship) and took him on the city lunch circuit with the cross-eyed cat," Krosnick said. "Daddy was quite the talk about town."
He came here in 1919 from Jamestown, N.D., and became co-owner of Noel and Peterson Motors. He was a graduate of the University of Florida, where he was a member of Beta Kappa and later served as a Gator Booster. He was also a teacher at Florida Military Academy, on the grounds of the Stetson University College of Law, and a member of Pasadena Community Church, where he served as treasurer for 21 years and chairman of the board of stewards for six years.
In his time with the St. Petersburg Civitan Club, he served as past president and past trustee. He represented St. Petersburg in Civitan International as vice president and treasurer. He was also a member of Future Floridians, which led the project to build the Bartlett Park complex. He was past president of the St. Petersburg Automobile Dealers Association and served nine years on the board of All Children's Hospital. He was a 56-year member of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. He was also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Chapter 1224.
"Daddy knew St. Petersburg when it was a sleepy little village," Krosnick said. "He helped and watched it grow into the booming city it is today." Krosnick is Noel's sole survivor.
Lona Krosnick was born Lona Kathleen Noel May 15, 1943 and lived at 5007 Imperial Palm Drive #5007 in Largo, Pinellas County, Florida. Her voter ID number was 117117500. She registered to vote in Largo 4 October 2008 and was registered in the Republican Party of Florida.
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