By Peek Hames – Originally published in the 2014 Founder’s Review
Coming from Long Island, New York to six acres just south of Belleview, fifth grader Frank Almeida Jr. felt as though he had been turned loose in a forest. It was 1958 when Frank Almeida Sr. and his wife, Hada, moved their family to Belleview. Frank Jr. had two younger brothers, Franco and Francois. A sister, Francine, would be born later. Frank said, “I hated it when we moved and didn’t want to be here. But it only took about two days before I was in love with the area and didn’t want to leave.”
Frank’s father was a carpenter/builder and found work constructing Jim Walter homes and helping to build the Ocala Shopping Center. He would go on to be a prominent builder and businessman in the area. Frank Jr. and his brothers spent happy days growing up next to Harold Cherry’s horse farm on Hwy 301, which is now Leonardo Estates. One day Franco enticed one of the Shetland ponies up to the fence with a carrot, and Frank Jr. climbed on the fence and got on the pony’s back for a ride. He was immediately bucked off. Frank was surprised that a little pony could buck so big. He and his brother soon made best friends with John and Rick Tuman and continue their friendships today. “Though we were only about a half mile out of town, it seemed as if we were way out in the country back then. We would collect drink bottles and walk to McGregor’s store, where Four Square Church is now, and cash them for candy or drinks. Mrs. Ruby ran the store and always gave us a hug.”
After Frank graduated from Lake Weir High School in 1966, he went to the University of South Florida in Tampa. His goal after USF was to become a veterinarian. The University of Florida didn’t have a vet school back then, and with Auburn University accepting few from out of state, Frank’s veterinary career was on hold. Frank was talking to Jim Smith, principal of Belleview Santos, about his dilemma of getting into Auburn, and Mr. Smith told him he had a biology teacher who had to take the second half of the year off. Since Frank had majored in biology, he gave him her job. Frank finished the year out and went back to school in the summer to get certified and taught biology at Belleview Santos for four more years.
Frank began selling real estate in his last year of teaching, and although he loved teaching and being involved with the kids, he gave up teaching and began his long and successful career in the real estate business. A big year for Frank was 1979. He married Kathy Jacobs, and along with his father, bought a piece of property south of the overpass. Many told him it was too far out of town, but he built Almeida Plaza, which consisted of his real estate office and four rental units. His first renter, and the only one for months, was a lawnmower business, Belleview Lawn Mower, which stayed with him for eleven years. With three spaces sitting idle, Frank began to think, “Maybe others were right. I might be too far out of town.” Jim Waldron from the Voice came out and took a picture of Frank standing by his sign, and an article about the Plaza appeared in the paper with the picture. Soon, the three remaining spaces were rented.
Frank’s father thought the five units were all they were going to build, but Frank Jr. wanted to build more. They went back to see Gary Barrett at Sun Bank, and Frank told of his expansion plans. His dad, wanting to slow down, opted out. When Frank told Gary of his plans, his dad looked at him and said, “Do you want to be a landlord or a slumlord?” Frank said, “A landlord.” “Then be a good one,” his father said. Those words Frank lives by today. He now has 19 rental units and twice a day the property is walked over, any trash or debris is picked up, and units are kept in quality condition.
Scouting and giving back has always been a big part of Frank’s life. When he joined the Lions Club at the age of 18, two men who were a huge influence in his life were there also. His father, who was his sponsor, and Art Muniz, who was the president of the Lions Club and also his scoutmaster. Frank was an Eagle Scout and assistant scoutmaster. After Mr. Muniz died suddenly, Frank was asked to be the scoutmaster for a few weeks until a replacement could be found. The weeks turned into 35 years of serving as scoutmaster. Today he is still active in scouting, meeting weekly and helping the older scouts earn their Eagle badge.
Frank has many stories that happened over the years on camping trips, but one aha moment happened at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. He was there with 16 Eagle Scouts, and the boys and the assistant scoutmaster went on ahead of him. Soon he saw a crowd of about 30 or 40 people and some soldiers ahead. Two of the scouts came running with their arms waving and were yelling, “Mr. A, hurry! They want you up here.” Frank thought, “What have those boys done?” They escorted him through the crowd, and there was U.S. Senator Bob Dole. He was an Eagle Scout himself, and after seeing the Eagle Scouts from Belleview, Florida Pack 167, he wanted to meet their scoutmaster.
From that bashful schoolboy who was nervous to speak before his class, Frank now glows with confidence and pride that he has been successful and able to grow up and raise his family of two boys, Michael and Mark, in Belleview. Anytime he decides to change careers, he could work for the Chamber of Commerce, for he never tires of telling of his love for Belleview and this community. “It all started with my mother and father,” he said. “My dad, who was my mentor and partner, taught me a work ethic, and my mother gave me the confidence that I have. Those are the same values I teach in scouting. It is truly a reward to watch a young boy achieve something that he never believed he could do.”
