Former City Employee To Be Honored For Five Points Clock Restoration Efforts

News report

Former City of Sarasota employee Carroll “Corky” Ramsey, who had died in March, will be honored for restoring the historic clock at Five Points in downtown Sarasota with a plaque dedication ceremony Friday, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m.

The stain glass clock dates back to 1926 when First Bank and Trust opened in downtown Sarasota with the clock mounted on the building facade.  Decades later, when the structure was known as the Palmer Bank Building, the clock was placed into storage during a renovation project and apparently forgotten – until Ramsey discovered it while working in the Parks and Recreation Department.  

Although the clock was in pieces, Ramsey used his welding skills to restore it to its original grandeur. Ultimately, the timepiece was placed on two poles on the southeast corner of where it remains today.

Ramsey was employed by the City of Sarasota from 1985 to approximately 1990, when the Parks and Recreation Department consolidated with Sarasota County. 

He continued to serve with excellence and pride as a county employee until his retirement in 1995, according to the city.

It was only after his recent death the current City Commission became aware of Ramsey’s integral role in preserving the historic clock and requested a plaque be installed recognizing his efforts, according to the city.