Duane Francis Mcconnell

DUANE F. McCONNELL LAKELAND - Duane Francis McConnell, a 'born again believer,' went home to be with his Lord, Jesus Christ, on Wed. Feb. 3, 2016. He is survived by his daughters Denette (Jack) Schweikert of Melbourne and Kathleen (Jeff) Coffman of Lakeland, his sons Fred (Darcie) McConnell of Lakeland, and Patrick (Kaye) McConnell of Bryson City, NC, and six grandsons: John (Elizabeth) Schweikert of Atlanta, Alec (Deborah) Schweikert of Seattle, Michael (Hannah) McConnell of Knoxville, Jim Coffman, Ryan McConnell, both of Lakeland and Neil Coffman of Tampa, and three great-granddaughters. Duane was born in Peoria, Illinois on October 5, 1920. He was raised in Tampa and graduated from Plant High School. He was a child of the First Great Depression which shaped the thinking of most of his generation. For him, 'doing without' motivated him to achieve. He knew what he wanted; he would set his goal and he achieved that goal. He was a classic case of 'poor boy does good.' He graduated from the University of Florida in 1941 with a degree in Accounting and went to work for Montenegro Accounting in Tampa for $25 per month. He had a lifelong interest in 'radio' earning the Boy Scout Radio Merit Badge (and became an amateur radio operator) on the way to becoming an Eagle Scout. That interest, and a four times salary increase to $25 per week, led him to become a shift engineer at WFLA in Tampa. He returned to Gainesville to finish his degree in Electrical Engineering where he met Martha Vidal, a pharmacist from Gainesville. They married in 1945. In 1949, he, Ted Covington and another partner, received a license for Radio Station WONN. He moved his family to Lakeland that year to build the station. In 1957, the partners sold WONN and Duane established WBIL in Leesburg, Florida. He moved the family to Leesburg. Three years later he sold WBIL and bought back WONN, but without partners. He moved the family back to Lakeland and he never left Lakeland again, except for short vacations. During his business career in the greater Lakeland area, in addition to WONN, he founded or co-founded Community Cablevision, Polk Cablevision and Peoples Cable in the Lakeland area, all of which are now parts of Brighthouse. He was also a partner in an FM Radio Station, WVFM in Lakeland. Duane loved Lakeland, Kiwanis and his Sunday School Class. He thrived on being in the middle of things and was a 'take charge' person. Among other things, he served in leadership positions in the Kiwanis Club of Lakeland, the First United Methodist Church, the United Way of Greater Lakeland, the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce, the Lakeland Economic Development Council, Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, the Lakeland Family YMCA and Volunteers in Service to the Elderly. His leadership efforts were recognized by a number of organizations. He was the recipient of the George Jenkins Award, Boy Scouts' Man of the Year, Rotary Club's 4 Way Test Award, Kiwanis Club of Lakeland's Distinguished Past President and the University of South Florida's Distinguished Service Award. He was also inducted into the Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame. In addition to his community service and philanthropy, he was involved with people in their personal situations and liked to 'fix' things. He was a self described 'do good nick.' He was bull headed and would not take 'no' for an answer. He was fiercely independent. His wife, Martha, was ill for a number of years and he was her caregiver until she died in 2001 after 56 years of marriage. He was unique and will be truly missed by family and friends. Visitation will be held on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Heath Funeral Chapel, 328 South Ingraham Ave., Lakeland, FL, 33801. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 6, 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 72 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland, FL, 33801. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, Gulf Ridge Council Boy Scouts of America, 13228 N. Central Ave., Tampa, FL, 33612 or VISTE, 1232 E. Magnolia St., Lakeland, FL, 33801. Service: 02/06/2016 First United Methodist Church 72 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801 Heath Funeral Chapel - Tribute Center Visitation: 02/05/2016 Heath Funeral Chapel - Tribute Center