Steve Wison Reflects On and Compiles Tributes to Space Coast Pioneer and Legend Dick Blake

Wilson reached out to many former co-workers with the City of Rockledge

While employed with the City of Rockledge, Steve Wilson was blessed to have the opportunity to work with and get to know Richard K. “Dick” Blake, who died June 3 at the age of 91. Wilson contacted people that he and Blake worked with and asked for their thoughts. Wilson took the above picture at the dedication of Dick Blake Park in Rockledge.

Richard “Dick” Blake, a pioneering educator, civil rights advocate, Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer and public servant, died June 3 at age 91.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – As we prepare later this week to say our final goodbyes to Space Coast legend, Richard K. “Dick” Blake, I reflected on my time employed with the City of Rockledge, and my many encounters with Mr. Blake.

He was a Rockledge City Council member for 40 years, and my position with the City had me working with Mr. Blake on many occasions.

I reached out to individuals who worked with me during this time and asked for their thoughts on Mr. Blake.

Unfortunately, due to time and space constraints, I was unable to contact everyone who worked with Mr. Blake. If I had, this article would be the length of a Charles Dickens novel. He was that well-known!

Below are comments I received:

Bill Posey, former U.S. Congressman: “Dick Blake was truly a living legend. It was an honor to know and serve with him. He witnessed many inequities during his lifetime, but always remained very positive. When faced with lemons, he made lemonade. Our communities have been very blessed by the impact he made.”

Tom Price, Mayor, City of Rockledge: “Dick was my friend and mentor. He was always happy and full of life. Dick knew no enemies. I have many memories of him, but the one that always sticks in my mind is when the Council chambers were filled with 150 angry people, and Dick was the Chairman. By the time he was done, the people left with a smile on their faces, even after Dick had voted against them. He had full control of any crowd, charismatic, enthusiastic, and powerful voice.”

Jim McKnight, former Rockledge City Manager: “Mr. Blake was a true friend of the McKnight Family and my father greatly admired Dick.  He coached my brother Danny at Cocoa, hired my brother Bill at Cocoa as the football coach, and served as one of my councilmen for most of my career at the City of Rockledge as City Manager. For me, he always had an encouraging word, no matter the situation.  I am honored that I can say he was my friend and will always appreciate his positive impact on my life!”

Pat O’Neill, former Rockledge City Council member: “We have lost a trail-breaking pioneer, a community servant, school principal, and best of all, he was an amazing mentor and friend to very many. What he was not was quiet and reserved! If you were lucky, you got to know him. Rest In Peace, my Friend.”

Dr. Joe Lee Smith, former Rockledge City Council member: “He was an outstanding personal, very personal, friend. He was a family man, a community public servant, a religious man, a teacher, a coach, an administrator, a city councilman, and an outstanding public community servant. He was a friend who will surely be missed. He has paid his price to society.”

Betsi Moist, former Rockledge City Clerk: “My friendship with Dick Blake goes back to 1967 when I was a sophomore at Cocoa High School – difficult to capture the essence of so many years into just a few words. That’s where his impact on me began. He was a larger-than-life presence even then. Outspoken, gregarious, with a personality that commanded respect and encouraged kindness. He was “Coach” to us, and I still called him that during our careers and on my frequent phone calls to chat with him.

“After 40 years of service each to the City of Rockledge, Coach and I retired together in November 2016, years during which I was able to watch him become a “first” in so many arenas and a friend to everyone to whom he extended his hand. When told of Coach’s passing, I liked what my sister, Barbara, had to say:

“Such a great community leader, friend, and all-around person. He always made you feel like he had known you his entire life, even when first meeting someone. Special man.”

Special man, indeed. To that, I can say I have always admired his color blindness. Not physically, but in a personified lack of bigotry. We are alike in that respect. He did not care if your skin was black, white, or otherwise pigmented; he based his opinion of you on your character, your integrity, and your ethics. The world could use more like him.

I will miss those frequent phone calls, the conversations about life and family, interspersed with recollections of the good times and friends. I sure hope St. Peter is ready for this!”

Kimberly Prosser, former Rockledge City Council member and former Brevard Emergency Management Director – “Dick Blake was my principal when I was a student at Cocoa High School.  I had the opportunity 20-plus years later to serve with him on the Rockledge City Council. He always demonstrated how to be a knowledgeable and prepared elected official, and more importantly, showed his genuine concern for people.”

Dr.  Shaun Ferguson, Rockledge City Council member: “Richard “Dick” Blake was more than a leader—he was a pioneer, a pillar of strength, and a personal mentor who helped to shape my life. He believed in me, invested in me, and imparted wisdom I still carry today. When he retired after over 40 years on the Rockledge City Council, I was honored to succeed him and humbled to walk the path he had so powerfully paved.

“As the first African American principal in Brevard Public Schools and a lifelong servant of this community, Mr. Blake’s legacy goes far beyond his titles. He lifted others, stood for what was right, and led with grace. I am just one of many forever inspired by his life and committed to carrying his legacy forward.”

Duane Daski, Rockledge City Council member: “I met Dick Blake years ago when I was volunteering on boards for the city. Like most who met Dick, you were an instant friend. I met with Dick when I decided to run for Council. He gave me his business card and said all I had to do was show his card to everyone I met, and it would be good for hundreds of votes. I still have the business card.

“When I was sworn in for Council, you typically listen and learn for a while before making motions. That was not Dick’s way, he wanted to get you involved immediately. I was on the dais for all of 15 minutes, and a motion needed to be made. Dick said, let’s have Councilman Daski make the motion. I stumbled through my first motion, but never looked back after that. Dick was a great teacher, coach and mentor. This was his nature.  I am truly blessed to have served with Dick.  He will be missed.”

Frank Forester, Rockledge City Council member: “I served on the Rockledge City Council with Dick for about 10 years and we were both administrators in Brevard Schools so trying to keep my comments about him brief is difficult.  I knew that Dick was well known but until I rode on the firetruck with him during my first Christmas parade on the council, I had no understanding of how many people knew him.  It seemed that everyone on the parade route knew him.

“But one thing I’m not sure most people know about him is what a great sense of humor Dick had.  For example, one night I was about 5 minutes late for a meeting he was chairing.  I knew he would give me a hard time, but I had no idea how far he would go.  He heckled me during the entire meeting and made me do 10 push-ups on the floor when the meeting was over.  I’ll miss Dick Blake.  He was a great man with a great sense of humor.”

■ David Henderson, former Rockledge Assistant City Manager/Finance Director: “Dick Blake was a friend and ardent supporter of everyone he knew. Regardless of their position in life, he treated all with dignity and considered their worth priceless.

“I remember at City Council meetings, when it was his turn to do the invocation, he would always end with the biblical phrase – that we should look unto the hills from which cometh our strength. He stood tall, both literally and figuratively, as one who represented equality, not just in terms of race, but as individuals, each with the opportunity to succeed and achieve based upon their own merits and work ethic. His long service in our school system, when coupled with his forty years of service to the citizens of Rockledge, continues to be impactful and serves as a shining example of caring public service.

We who were honored to work with him were blessed and I have no doubt that as he stood before our Lord he heard proclaimed – WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.”

■ Lisa Nicholas, former Rockledge CRA Coordinator and City Clerk: “A few years before I began working for the City of Rockledge, I worked for a state representative. In my role as a legislative aide, I was attending a Space Coast League of Cities dinner where the representative was speaking. I didn’t know anyone, and I suppose I looked a bit lost. As I was scanning the room for a seat, I saw Councilman Blake waving me over to join the Rockledge delegation at his table. He didn’t know me; that’s just who he was. At times, such dinners can be a little tedious, but Councilman Blake, Councilman Smith, and the stories they shared were beyond entertaining! They made me feel welcomed and very much at home.

“When I started with the City in early 2011, City Manager McKnight asked me to introduce myself to the Council. I shared the story of the Space Coast League of Cities dinner and how gracious Councilmen Blake and Smith were, and what a wonderful and lively evening it was. They seemed to recall the event and thanked me for reminding them of the occasion. Councilman Blake then asked me his signature question – did you graduate from Cocoa High? Laughter, of course, erupted.

“At the time of that dinner, I didn’t know that I would ultimately become a part of the Rockledge team. All I knew that evening was that a true gentleman, who had no idea who I was, made me feel welcomed, included, and special. That’s just who he was.”

■ Steve Wilson: “Dick Blake was special. This was brought to light when I visited him at his house one afternoon. Sitting in his living room, we were joined by a group of his former high school basketball players. Mr. Blake coached them all at Monroe High School in the early 1960s. Some of the stories they were telling were hilarious, but what really stood out to me was not the undefeated State Championship season, but the respect and admiration they all had for Mr. Blake. They each spoke about how he shaped their lives. Dick Blake made that kind of an impact on people he met.

“Richard K. “Dick” Blake may be gone, but he will NEVER be forgotten.”

Visitation: Thursday, June 12, 2025, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Metropolitan Baptist Church
474 King Street
Cocoa, FL 32922

Wake Service: Thursday, June 12, 2025, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Metropolitan Baptist Church
474 King Street
Cocoa, FL 32922

Honoring and Remembering Dick Blake: Friday, June 13, 2025

Visitation – 8 a.m.
Funeral Service – 9 a.m.
Richard “Dick” Blake Stadium
2001 Rosetine Street “Tiger Trail”
Cocoa, FL 32922

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia.  He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.

Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018,  Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey, Florida House District 32 Constituent of the Week 4/20/25.

Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.

He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 26 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.

The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.

Similar Stories