Long-time Gulf Breeze Mayor Lane Gilchrist, 72, has died. I received a phone call early this morning that Lane had passed away during surgery.
Lane first was elected to the Gulf Breeze City Council 27 years ago. He has served as mayor of Gulf Breeze since 1992–the year I first was elected to the council. Under his leadership, Gulf Breeze has become one of the most financially sound, progressive and stable municipalities in Northwest Florida.
He was passionate about his small town. He threw out the first pitch at baseball games, rode bikes to school with elementary school students on Bike Safety Day and was present at nearly every community event.
Lane will be missed. He leaves wife Suzie and two sons, M. Lane, Jr. and Michael.