April 24

A portion of Key West's Truman Annex waterfront, ca. 2000.

1908 – In commencement exercises held at the San Carlos, Lancelot Lester became the first graduate of Key West High School.

1940 – Popular professional wrestler “Man Mountain Dean” arrived in Key West to attend the Florida State Convention of the American Legion. Dean was an assistant national sergeant-at-arms for the organization.

1966 – PFC Richard Anthony Recupero, a Key West native, was killed in action in Vietnam. Recupero was survived by his wife and a two-week-old son he had never seen. The HAWK Missile Battery in Key West was later named in his honor.

1980 – Two boats every five minutes were being launched at Garrison Bight to form an armada of small craft bound to Cuba in hope of bringing their families to the U.S. The total number of refugees that had arrived in Key West was estimated at 765.

1985 – Key West Mayor Richard Heyman and Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority Chairman Joe Pinder broke ground for a new water distribution system for Key West.

2010 – Nearly 200 Key West residents met with city staff to offer ideas for the development of 6.6 acres of land in Truman Waterfront Park. Creating an open green space and turning a former Navy mess hall into a community center were the leading choices.

Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.

Image: A portion of Key West's Truman Annex waterfront, ca. 2000. U.S. Navy photo. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.