Posted on 02/09/2011 8:33:19 AM PST by Nachum
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — A former Indiana mayor who won four terms in the 1930s and 1950s is proving less popular with modern-day city leaders, who say they probably won't name a new government center for him because of the jokes his moniker could inspire.
Harry Baals is the runaway favorite in online voting to name the new building in Fort Wayne, about 120 miles northeast of Indianapolis. But Deputy Mayor Beth Malloy said that probably won't be enough to put the name of the city's longest-tenured mayor on the center.
The issue is pronunciation. The former mayor pronounced his last name "balls." His descendants have since changed it to "bales."
Supporters said it's unfair that the former mayor can't be recognized simply because his name makes some people snicker. But opponents fear that naming the center after Baals would make Fort Wayne the target of late-night television jokes.
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"We realize that while Harry Baals was a respected mayor, not everyone outside of Fort Wayne will know that," Malloy said Tuesday in a statement to The Associated Press. "We wanted to pick something that would reflect our pride in our community beyond the boundaries of Fort Wayne."
An online site taking suggestions for names showed more than 1,300 votes Tuesday for the Harry Baals Government Center. That's more than three times the votes received by the closest contender.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
We’ve all heard the jokes about Ball State University and Beaver College. Sheesh, are we adolescents who snicker at those types of jokes???
You should hear the local radio reporting this. LOL
Uhhh huh huh huhuhuh that would be cool
Um...Yes?
I know a Dick Shrivels from Coldwater Michigan and I used to work with Richard Burns.
Got to laugh at something these days.
Once knew a urologist named “Ball”. Good man.
Then there’s that Asian guy working at Home Depot, sporting the name tag that reads “Hi, I’m Hung.” No joke.
Fort Wayne, about 120 miles northeast of Indianapolis
The Fort Wayne metro area has a population of over a quarter of a million, yet the AP reporter(ette) felt compelled to tell his(her) readers how to find it. :)
Of course we are.
Two nights ago on Top Gear the Brits made fun of the welcome sign to “Intercourse, Pennsylvania.”
It’s human nature. No way Fort Wayne is going to let you buy some Schwetty Balls at the Harry Baals Center.
Now that's funny.
I lived in Ft. Wayne during some of my, errr, formative years, and know of this Harry Baals - even know Harry Baals Avenue.
I think that more govt buildings need to be dedicated to “BAALs”. Oh wait, aren’t they already?
Oh, and he's a gynecologist.
Editor wanted in Column 1!
Headlines by Beavis and Butthead. And I thought the 'Beaver' thread was bad...
"It is a new way of reaching out to the community,"
And telling them to get stuffed.
When I lived in Michigan the Lieutenant Governor was named Dick Posthumous. Always thought that was the worst name I’d ever heard, but this thread may top it.
Yep. We are.
}:-)4
Non-problem: just name it the H. W. Baals Center.
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