Farewell to a friend: Ford R. Dally (1930-2008)

Ford Dally was the man responsible for bringing the F-86L Sabre Jet to Crane Park in Monroe An appreciation by Jim Nelson Monroe - We lost a good friend this past month. Ford R. Dally died Oct. 17 at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Although Ford and Maureen moved to Florida many years ago, he left his mark on our community during the many years he lived here. Growing up in Monroe at a time when the population was not expanding as quickly as it is today, most of the people who lived in our community knew each other well. This was especially true at the start of World War II. It was a time when the whole community supported our troops fighting to preserve our freedom. One such person who stepped forward was pre-teen Ford R. Dally, who became active in the Civil Defense organization of our town. He started as a messenger, and then his name got mysteriously added to the list for the watch at the headquarters or lookout station even though he was too young. Someone erased his name from the list thinking it was a mistake, but Ford put it back. And nobody rubbed it out a second time. 20 years in service to his country Ford Dally joined the Army at the beginning of the Korean War and served in Vietnam. He would make the Army his career, rising to the rank of Master Sergeant. Ford was proud to serve his country and remained in the Army for 20 years. His last duty station was West Point. He played an important part as liaison when President Dwight David Eisenhower and General of the Army Omar Bradley visited West Point. He was proud to show the letters he received from these two distinguished Americans, thanking him for all he had done on their visits. Ford was born March 14, 1930, the son of Joseph W. R. and Madeline K. Relyea Dally. His mother died when he was a year old and his father remarried Sarah B. Smith in 1933. His father, Joseph W. R. Dally, served as supervisor of the Town of Monroe for 22 years and for five of those years he was chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Orange County. He would later serve as county treasurer for 15 years. Ford Dally was an active member of many organizations while he lived in Monroe. He was a Mason, a former master and a life member of Cornerstone Lodge #711, Monroe. He served as a member of the Mombasha Fire Company and Monroe American Legion Post 488, of which he was a past commander. After he moved to Florida, he was a member of the West Orange VFW Post 4305, Winter Garden, Fla. The need for a playground in Monroe The one monument that Ford left behind was the airplane that sits at the end of Crane Park in what is known as the Ford R. Dally Playground. There was no playground for children in Monroe in the 1960’s. Ford, who was at the time on the Monroe Park Commission, along with Mayor Jay Stahl, decided it was time to move ahead to provide a play area for the children of Monroe. The U.S. Air Force was contacted to determine if it had an obsolete aircraft that could be used as a focal point for the park. Air Force officials said that an F-86L Sabre Jet was available at their base in upstate Rome. Ford Dally, along with Mayor Stahl, Richard Stitt and Bill Codington, drove to Rome with a truck and trailer loaned to them from local businesses. They returned to Monroe with the jet, which was reassembled with the help of off duty Air Force personnel from Stewart Air Force base in Newburgh. The Mombasha Fire Co., the Masonic Lodge, the Monroe Improvement Association and Roscoe Smith all donated money for draining the park area, fencing in the new playground and purchasing the playground equipment. On Aug. 29, 1970, the Village of Monroe honored Ford for all his efforts in making the playground possible. They dedicated the playground in his name. He will be missed by all Today the jet is in poor condition and Mayor John Karl and the village trustees are trying to raise money to put the plane on a pedestal and refurbish it. Monroe has risen to the task before, and there is no reason why we can’t do it again, in memory of Ford Dally and our other service men and women who have gone before us. Ford Dally is survived by his wife, Maureen Doyle. They were married May 14, 1956. Other survivors are his children Mark and his wife Kim, Jeffrey and daughter Susan. He also is survived by his grandchildren Christopher and Matthew; his brother Joseph Warren Dally of Margate, Fla., and his sister Carolyn Newman of Jacksonville, Fla. Ford Dally is buried at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. On my vacation to Florida once a year, I always made it a point to stop to visit Ford and Maureen. Ford always had great stories about growing up in Monroe and showed much love for his community. Ford Dally touched many people. He was always there to help anyone in need, going out of his way many times to provide comfort and assistance. Ford was loved by his family and many friends alike; he will be missed by all. Jim Nelson is Monroe town historian.