April 9

Outstanding Key West athlete Robert "Speedy" Neal at Tommy Roberts Memorial Stadium, ca. 1980.

1932 – The Secretary of the Navy announced that the activities of the Seventh Naval District were to be combined with the Sixth Naval District and transferred to Charleston. The Key West Naval Station was to be reduced to maintenance status as soon as practicable and not later than June 30, 1932.

1963 – Monroe County Commissioners approved a $29,500 expenditure for the State Road Department to study the feasibility of a causeway connecting North Key Largo and the mainland. The analysis would look at a Card Sound crossing, as well as other routes.

1975 – Robert “Speedy” Neal pitched a perfect game in a Little Major League contest at Key West’s Peter Dopp Field. Neal struck out 17 of the 18 batters he faced, plus he hit two home runs, to lead his Lions team to victory.

1984 – The Monroe County Tourist Development held its first meeting at the Holiday Inn Key West. This was formerly the Key West Tourist Development Council until a referendum included the rest of the county.

2003 – Monica Weber, the Key West Fire Department’s first female firefighter, began her first day on the job.

2015 – White Street Partners, developers of the former Key West military housing property Peary Court, announced they would not demolish the existing homes there. They would instead renovate and modernize them and add 48 units of affordable housing.

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

Image: Outstanding Key West athlete Robert "Speedy" Neal at Tommy Roberts Memorial Stadium, ca. 1980. Wright Langley Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.