City renames 13th Street after former educator Willie B. Speed

Former Educator Willie B. Speed

Photo provided by family

At the regular scheduled meeting of the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners held last night the commission voted unanimously to honor the legacy of former educator Willie B. Speed. 

Acting upon the recommendation of Apalachicola Mayor Van Johnson, City Commissioner Jimmy Elliott offered a motion, which solidly passed to rename a portion of 13th Street, from Avenue L to Avenue G after Speed.

Speed, a native of Apalachicola earned a B.S. degree and a Master's degree from Florida A & M University and after graduation moved to Ocala, FL where he taught school for the Marion County School District. Upon moving back to his hometown Apalachicola, he briefly taught school before receiving an appointment in 1954 as the principal of Wallace M. Quinn High School, which lasted until 1968.  

He was also a Franklin County School Board Administrator, an Assistant Public School Superintendent, a Franklin County School Board Member from 1992 to 2000 and the Chairman of the Franklin County School Board from 1999 to 2000.

In recognition of his many years of service as a Franklin County Educator, before his passing in 2011 the Franklin County School District named their board meeting room both in Apalachicola and in Eastpoint after relocating in his honor.

He faithfully served his country during World War II and was a member of the local American Legion.