30th Anniversary History Book

When the Lathams and other parents decided to start a school from scratch they had no idea where it would be and there was absolutely no guarantee such a plan would work. “It was a leap of faith,” Latham said. “I thought it would be a success, but I wasn’t sure at what number (of students).” Where to begin? First off, they needed a name. They batted around some ideas, but settled quickly on Beacon College . “Nice symbolic value,” Latham said, “in that it served as a beacon to students with learning disabilities.” They also were required to establish a corporation, obtain tax-exempt status, and secure a license from the Florida State Board of Independent Colleges and Universities.

First settled in 1857 by Evander McIver Lee, Leesburg was incorporated in 1875, the name coming from its founding family. Once known for its watermelon production, Leesburg also sat on the northern fringe of the state’s once- thriving citrus industry. But as agriculture faded over time, Leesburg became more of a retirement destination. By the late 1980s, downtown Leesburg was burdened with empty storefronts, having lost tenants to a $26 million regional mall that had opened at the turn of the decade. “I thought about the things that we could offer over the other areas,” Lovell told the Orlando Sentinel in 1989. “We have recreational facilities, restaurants, [and] drugstores for them to get their medication, and a bank all within a block of their proposed location.” City leaders were eager to accommodate Beacon, too, hoping the school would grow over time and help reinvigorate the compact business district by filling up some vacant buildings and injecting youthful vigor into the town. Lovell’s pitch was persuasive and the fledgling college was planted in Leesburg. “It was a nice, small town,” Latham said. “It has proven to be a good fit for everyone.” Perhaps the biggest hurdle facing the founders was finances. In addition to paying annual tuition, books, and room and board payments of roughly $17,500 per student, the founding parents raised about $50,000 in short-term

loans as seed money for the school. The loans were repaid as they came due, Latham said. The initial funds enabled the college to hire staff and to purchase one building and lease others, including dormitory space. Their efforts won a temporary license to operate from the state, which also asked for and received proof that Beacon had committed students, an administrative structure, faculty and a library. “A lot of time went into planning and making the initial arrangements,” Latham said. “I thought it would be a SUCCESS, BUT... at what number (of students). ”

Location was another major question. The parents considered a number of places in the greater Orlando area before choosing Leesburg. They liked Central Florida because they believed the warm weather and proximity to Orlando would attract students. Then Leesburg City Commissioner Robert Lovell volunteered to scout out possible landing spots within his community, which sits between two large lakes, Harris and Griffin, at the head of the Ocklawaha River system.

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