The Historical Society of Avon ParkAVON PARK, FL · EST. 1886
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Edgar A. DeLaney, Sr.

The longest-serving civic leader in Avon Park’s municipal history. In April 1955, as “Mayor E. A. Delaney,” he put the Black churches’ request for a police liaison back to them and let them choose Fred Conner.[newssun-conner-1995]

Who he was

Edgar Azell DeLaney, Sr., born 7 December 1891 in Madison County, Florida; died 18 November 1979 in Highlands County; buried at Bougainvillea Cemetery, Avon Park.[findagrave-delaney] His parents were Tim Delaney (1855–1905) and Sarah T. Adams Blanton Delaney; a brother, Robert Parker DeLaney (1882–1948), also lies at Avon Park.[findagrave-delaney]

DeLaney was married twice:[maxwell-1976]

  • First to Annie Clemmons DeLaney (died c. 1921), with whom he had two children: Cois Leroy “Jack” Delaney (1914–2000), a long-serving vice president of the Old Settlers Association, and Helen Lucenia Delaney Peeples (1920–1981).[maxwell-1976][findagrave-delaney]
  • Second to Estella Eugenia “Stella” Butts DeLaney (1903–1984), with whom he had three sons: Edgar Azell DeLaney, Jr., a decorated World War II Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress flight crewman; Leonard DeLaney; and Thevenow Harold DeLaney, named for Harold “Tommy” Thevenow, the popular shortstop of the St. Louis Cardinals who held spring training at Avon Park’s Head Field in 1927 and 1928.[maxwell-1976][dt-delaney-b17]

What he did

When the city council proposed in January 2014 to rename South Delaney Avenue for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Highlands News-Sun explained whose name was on it. Edgar A. DeLaney Sr. “served as president of the Avon Park City Council for two terms and as mayor for 28 years,” and “helped bring Walker Memorial Hospital, South Florida Junior College and federal housing projects to Avon Park”; the federal housing project Delaney Heights “still bears the name of Edgar A. DeLaney Sr.” His grandson, Kris DeLaney, objected to the renaming.[newssun-delaney-2014]

The “twenty-eight years” reflects his cumulative career in Avon Park municipal governance:

  • Eighteen years as elected mayor: two terms from 14 September 1943 to September 1947, and seven consecutive terms from 8 September 1953 to September 1967 (succeeded by James M. Doerr).[maxwell-1976]
  • Ten years of earlier council leadership: elected to the City Council during the 1920s boom; served as Mayor Pro-Tem from 11 February to April 1929 following the death of Mayor William King; and served two full terms as City Council President, including re-election in December 1929 when Dr. Charles S. Donaldson became mayor.[maxwell-1976]

During his tenure in municipal office, DeLaney led or supported the establishment of Walker Memorial Hospital (1948), the Florida State Hospital branch and alcoholism center, Delaney Heights public housing, and South Florida Junior College (1965).

The street

South Delaney Avenue runs through the Black neighborhood south of the old town — New Mount Olive A.M.E. Church stands on it “on the hill.” The street through Black Avon Park was named for the white mayor of the segregation years, and the proposal to rename it for King failed in 2014.[newssun-delaney-2014]

References

Where this comes from

Evidence
corroborated — More than one independent source agrees.
Review
unverified — Drafted from sources but not yet checked by a volunteer.
Rights
society

Sources

  1. Leoma Bradshaw Maxwell, The First Hundred Years of Avon Park, Florida, pages 199 and 212 (references/the-first-hundred-years-of-avon-park_leoma-bradshaw-maxwell_1976.md) (1976) · book
  2. Phil Attinger, Highlands News-Sun, DeLaney opposes name change — Highlands News-Sun, 26 January 2014, by Phil Attinger, as reproduced on docslib.org (2014) · newspaper
  3. Find a Grave contributors, Find a Grave memorial 51080707, Edgar Azell DeLaney Sr. (7 December 1891 – 18 November 1979), Bougainvillea Cemetery, Avon Park (2026)
  4. Romona Washington, Highlands News-Sun, Conner first Black to serve as police officer — Highlands News-Sun, 25 February 2025, reprinting Romona Washington's profile of 1995 (2025) · newspaper
  5. Downtown Avon Park Association, E A DeLaney - B17 Crew, Downtown Avon Park historical photo collection (2026)

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