Page 178 - lake-city-florida-a-sesquicentennial-tribute-(h-morris-williams-kevin-mccarthy)-2009

Lake City, Florida: A Sesquicentennial Tribute (2009) H. Morris Williams, Dr. Kevin M. McCarthy

When word of Fred’s death reached Lake City, it seemed the
whole town cried. Here are some remembrances community leaders
had when they learned of his death. Ernest Williams, CHS scholar
athlete of 1940: “Fred always had a self-assured ‘winner’s walk’ like
he just knew he would succeed at whatever he tried.” Jim Pitman,
teammate: “Fred always found a way to succeed. He made everyone
around him a better person, a better player.” Dr. E.F. Montgomery
Sr., Fred’s pastor: “To those who knew him, his worth and nobility
need not be told. To those who knew him not, ‘This was he that every
man could only wish to be.’” Jerome Eastham, Fred’s CHS princi-
pal: “Fred had an uncompromising conscience that led him to always
do the right thing.” John “Red” Davis, sports editor of the Orlando
Sentinel and later the Lake City Reporter: “His character in the pres-
ence of God was his highest virtue. His life was a veritable thing of
beauty on all occasions.”

This was Fred Kinard, universally beloved and respected,
who died at age 21 for our freedom. May we all remember his life and
his sacrifice each time we see his name on this street sign—Lieutenant
Fred Kinard Street.

Fred “Fireball” Kinard became the first person to be buried
in Lake City’s Memorial Cemetery.

Fred Kinard’s grave stone in Memorial Cemetery
174

www.LakeCityHistory.com LCH-UUID: 7C3282B3-DDE1-49C3-985A-3A9C9467368D