there on the roads if you’re about to get out and had about that said I Tony sign time
saver traffic Bruce Melanie.
>> It is nearly impossible to
walk around
an object.
>> And find a landmark that
does not have a former mayor
Jake godbold fingerprints.
This morning the entire city is
Mourning his loss.
>> The former mayor son Ben
tells news for jax’s father
died of a heart attack. He
was on his way to pick up
breakfast had a big weekend
planned in many of
Jacksonville’s political
leaders remember the former
mayor as
a mentor and a mayor who never
really gave up his role as
mayor.
>> Right to the end his
influence extended beyond his
term as mayor right to the end.
Even with J he was a man of
the people he signed a few
weeks ago when hearing 86 years
old arguing on behalf of the
people. And so Jake godbold who
became mayor but nearly 50
years ago 40 years ago.
Has had an influence now for
nearly half a century here in
Jacksonville.
>> What a legacy, you know one
of his biggest accomplishments
was his role
and bringing the Jaguars to
Jacksonville effect in 1993 14
years after the then mayor
started his quest but many may
not know he also help
revitalize downtown building
many projects including the
landing.
>> The former landmark opened
in 1987 to much fanfare
there are crowds of people
balloons confetti it was a
party. It was a scene as an
attraction. They could bring
the river city’s downtown back
to life. This judge reporter
Jennifer ready joins us live.
At the former site of the
landing. Jan, then no
more but.
>> The former mayor’s legacy
lives on.
>> Good morning, Jake
godbold had a major impact on
the city here from his time
serving on city Council to well
beyond his time as mayor and as
you mentioned, he was
responsible for bringing the
landing here to downtown
Jacksonville and he continued
fighting for it before it was
torn down.
>> In June 1987 the Jacksonville landing opened to a large crowd as bands played
and balloons flew overhead.
Jake godbold was the mayor of
Jacksonville at the time.
>> We needed a center piece not
a corner peace,
a centerpiece that we could
build from.
>> Godbold called the
riverfront mall
downtown’s Diamond before was
torn down he spoke to news 4
Jax anchor
Tom wills making a plea to the
mayor to let the public decide
its future.
>> You remember this place when
it was prosper it.
>> The in here today when that
it’s virtually a ghost town
does that hurt.
>> It makes you want to prise I
come here sit here today at
this. It’s unbelievable
going back. The grand opening.
What a beautiful.
They it was that day then that
night.
In the weeks months and years
following it.
>> The landing is one of the
least of major developments
godbold was the driving force
for as the leader of
Jacksonville.
>> We had a tremendous downtown
development pier. We had the
the saying said the
I think they referred to as is
the billion-dollar decade.
>> During that time the
Southbank Riverwalk was built
in the old union terminal train
station was transformed into
what’s now the prime Osborn
Convention Center developments
leaving a lasting impact on the
city as God bolts legacy lives
on.
>> Are serving as the mayor
godbold remain a very active
member of the community
addressing issues, including J
e a Jennifer ready Channel 4
the local station.
>> It was passionate wore his emotions about the city and the sleeve in 2018 the city Mark 50
years
of consolidation. This projects
hosted an event with all of the
living mayors,
including Jake. He showed great
emotion for Jacksonville as I
said it wasn’t afraid to point
out areas that need improvement
education was one of them.
During that forum, he said
corruption in the city and the
county played a big role in the
push for consolidation.
>> A lot of indictments went on
that help that charter passed
that was one thing. No doubt
about it. One thing that let
people didn’t talk about that
it was going to be a black say
and it was those that knew that
no doubt about that that played
a part in 2. We made when we
put the chart together. We I
think is put together very
very well. The biggest thing
about it is the strong but fair
it gave I didn’t really enjoy
being president of
the council. I really didn’t
have a lot of fun being on the
council for 14 years. But I had
a helluva lot of fun being
there with it that’s what that
was there
was that authority to make
things happen. In the charter
is what gives each one of us
that strong mayor government.
Now the one thing you don’t
want to do is to ever elect a
week mayor because as charter
is bill for a strong mayor.
>> And he made
things happen. He gave his
blood sweat and tears to this
city and he
worked hard for the causes in
which he believed including
preventing domestic violence.
And he
did that in memory of his
sister-in-law Barber and