Ocala panel recommends marker commemorating young Tom Petty's 1961 meeting with Elvis
November 06, 2025 | Ocala, Marion County, Florida
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Staff told the board the nomination (COA25-003) covers the northeast corner of East Silver Springs Boulevard and NE Osceola Avenue and was submitted by Paul Stinnaford. The property owner is listed as Austin International RLT LLC. Staff said the proposed marker is similar in style to other downtown markers, would sit on publicly maintained property within an existing easement, and cited section 94.81 of the city code in support of staff's findings.
"I'm a general contractor since 1985," Paul Stinnaford said during public comment, recounting local film history and his research into the moment when a then-10-year-old Tom Petty met Elvis on the film set in Ocala. Stinnaford told the board his Sunset Rotary club will pay for the marker and that family representatives approved the commemorative wording, adding that the group does not intend to profit from the marker.
Board members said the proposed marker complements existing downtown markers and noted that it supports the city's preservation goals and local cultural heritage. After discussion, a board member moved to accept COA25-003 under the cited code section; the motion was seconded and the board voted in favor. Staff noted the board's recommendation will be forwarded to city council for a final decision.
The marker was described in staff materials as 42 by 30 (dimension units not specified in the record) and will be placed on a publicly accessible site near the railroad crossing and the downtown square. Staff materials and the applicant's submission are part of the public record for the nomination.
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