Walters remembers stories behind the headlines

Dora Walters covered murders, interviewed former President Jimmy Carter and attended too many meetings and events to count.

A crowd gathered to get the scoop from Walters about her biggest stories when she spoke Feb. 20 at Christ Church of Longboat Key, Presbyterian, to the Longboat Key Historical Society.

But, before she spoke, she ordered the crowd to take a look at her dress. She got more than a few whistles.

“I wore this dress when I had my first interview with Claire Hunter for a position at the Longboat Observer,” Walters said, drawing cheers from the audience. “Circa 1987.”

Walters retired last year after a career in journalism that spanned more than six decades, including 26 years at the Longboat Observer.

She spoke to the Historical Society about the stories that made headlines during her career, but many of her stories focused on the Key’s most memorable characters.

The late Jim Durante, Walters said, was a “feisty New York attorney (and judge) who had an opinion on everything. You could tell where he sat at Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key meetings by the fresh bottle of ketchup on the table because Durante put ketchup on his eggs, omelets, French toast and pancakes.”

Joan M. Durante Park became a reality because of his $500,000 donation in honor of his late wife.
One of the most memorable commissioners Walters encountered was the late Kit Fernald, a dedicated conservationist who served as mayor and helped establish the Longboat Key Turtle Watch. She was the only woman on the commission at the time and could be good at manipulating.

“Sometimes, I don’t think those boys even knew what was happening, but usually she got her way,” Walters said.

Edith Barr Dunn, the former owner of Shenkel’s restaurant on the Key who is known for her Stetson hats, is about the same size as Walters and would sometimes stop at the Longboat Observer to give Walters some items after cleaning out her closet.

“Edith had a penchant for bell bottoms and sequins, but I don’t have a penchant for them,” Walters said. “I made sure they got a good home.”

Retired Longboat Key Police Chief Wayne McCammon — a “big bear of a man” with a booming voice who was the original author of the Observer’s Cops Corner — was a talented amateur actor. Both he and Walters acted together in a Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce production of “You Can’t Take it With You,” with Walters playing a Russian duchess working as a waitress and McCammon as the duke.

Walters read novelist H. Terrell “Terry” Griffin’s first novel, “Longboat Blues,” before it was published, after Griffin’s friend, the late Miles Leavitt, plopped a notebook that contained a draft of the book in front of her at the former Tiny’s of Longboat Key.

Griffin, who has now published nine books, continues to name characters after locals, like he did in “Longboat Blues.” Finally, in 2011, he named a character in “Collateral Damage” after Walters.

“Don’t get too excited, the chapter is two-and-a-half pages,” she said.

Florence Katz, a longtime Temple Beth Israel volunteer, established a weekly luncheon for homebound members who could not get to the temple for events. She was recognized with the 2013 State of Florida Salute to Senior Service Award and was honored Sunday at the temple.

Walters said Katz turned 98 in July and challenged the audience to guess how she celebrated.

“The day after her 98th birthday, she got on the phone, called Michael’s On East and reserved the ballroom for her 100th birthday,” Walters said.

One figure Walters admired was the late Gen. Jim Edmundson, who served in the U.S. Air Force for 36 years that included World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War. His career included 196 missions and nine plane crashes.

He was critically injured when his car collided with a tractor trailer and became stuck underneath it while he was driving to a Kiwanis Club meeting early one morning. He had planned a reunion of the 468th Bomb Group for around that time. The group still met for the reunion at the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort, then boarded a bus to visit Edmundson at the hospital.

When Edmundson entered the room, Walters said he was unrecognizable: His leg was in a splint, and he was covered with bandages and bruises.

“Instantly, the minute he came into the room, every single one of those guys saluted and stood at attention,” Walters said. “There was hardly a dry eye in the room.”

Walters finished her presentation by updating the crowd on another Key character — herself.

She is currently living with her dog, Jake, in rural Georgia, where she does volunteer work for the thrift shop of an organization that gives Christmas gifts to children in need and also for the community theater. She also writes and takes photographs for the local “underdog paper” on occasion.

But she remembers her career fondly.

“Looking back, I can’t think of anything else I would have wanted to have done,” Walters said.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected]