The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-03-01
Tribute to The Late
Alfred J. HOIWOrfhy
BY His Devoted Friend Mt Hetherngton

ing Of the city, had so impressed Itself
uIoG ihc bu9iEaSs men of the con-
munity that a number Of them asked
the CWnc" of tho paper 10 release MN
from his connection wi h it in order
that he might take the position OF
secretary CT the Lakeland Chamber
CT Commerce. Thus was brought the
fret really efficient civic organization
inaugurated in Lakeland, and Mr.
HulWOV;hy's connection with II TO.
nearly ten year: WAS q success ion o
accomplishments for the ufbui!dilg g
Lakeland and the development of The
cCu@trT surrounding.
IN all these years HOt one projoo,
for the betterment Of this community
was advanced but that he was tn
leader IL bringing il to accomplish
l1cnt. His work was not Spectacular,
nor was he proficient IN blowing hi:
own horn; henre many people Hcr3
10: conscious OF his untiring and CON
acientiCuS efforts; but those who wer"
at all in touch with the operation o.
the organization are unanimous in the
opinion that no one man ever accom-.
plished as much for this city as he
did. Through his work hundreds OF
PEOPLE have located here: scores Of
gatherings of Importance and value
were brought here; the city and coun-
try received an immense amount of
advertising; and every worthy civic
accomplishment was materially aided.
and many of them initiated, by him. It
was almost entirely due to his tireless
work that the white way, a project
originated by him. was made posi-
BILE; and countless other items of pub
lie progress were pushed to satisfac
tory completion by his energy and en-
thusiasm.
The browning achievement of his
public career. in point OF value to this
city and county, was in connection
with the project of building Polk
county's magnificent system of roads.
Many able men helped in this great
work; but long before it was thought
that. such an undertaking was posi-
blc-when. in fact, the idea Of a work
of this magnitude was thought to he
visionary and impractical, Mr.. Hell
worthy was steadily and quietly get
ting the details in shape. For an Ell.
tire year before the county commits.
sioners agreed 30 submit the project
to the people he had compiled facts
and figures that enabled the commits.
sioners to present it to the voters il
concrete proposition with every
question that could possibly be aske i
already answered. Then. in the men,
orable campaign which resulted in 4
sweeping victory for the milion-and-
half bond issue, not only was his
voice heard in every precinct-in
every village-in the county. but he
! furnished the facts and figures that
enabled other able advocates to pre-
sent this great proposition to the PEG.
pie in such a way as to bring abou
its triumphant acceptance by thu
people-thereby securing the greatest
asset and the best advertisement that
Folk county can point to the world
The high tension under which all
this strenuous work was done, and
the rigid cOnscientiousneSS which
would not allow him to slight even the
smallest detail. began two or three
years ago, to tell upon his nervous
system; and after several illnesses OF
greater or less severity, he was told
by phyicians, about a year ago, that
he would have to give up his work as
secretary of the Chamber of Com
merce. He reluctantly rendered his
resignation, which was with equal re-
iuctance accepted. under the circum.
stances; but loyalty to his position
and the organization which had stood
back of him. prevented him from max
ing his resignation effective until a
successor could be secured. This took
time; and, meanwhile, the big propo-