Constance “Connie” Moore Delaney was a force in local journalism in Florida’s Heartland for more than half a century.
Born May 21, 1928, in Indiana, to Lamonte H. and Emmeline Moore, Delaney spent the Great Depression crisscrossing the county as her parents followed newspaper work. The family of three eventually settled back in Indiana where they owned and operated the Lagrow Press.
The family migrated to Florida in the 1950s, and, after stints at various newspapers, eventually purchased and began operation of the Okeechobee News. The family would eventually settle in Lake Placid as the owners of the Lake Placid Journal.
A single mother and divorcee, Delaney helmed the weekly Lake Placid newspaper for more than four decades as she raised her five children.
“We wrote everything: from babies to obits,” she said. “I remember being at a wreck and could not get a picture because it was so dark. Several people held flashlights and washed the scene in light for me. It was quite something; I couldn’t believe it.”
Delaney, along with her five children, worked at the Lake Placid Journal together and she ensured the paper was local and focused on the people of the town. She served as editor and later publisher of the publication
Delaney was a fixture at Town Council meetings for decades—even after younger generations had assumed official writing duties. She was a strong advocate of Florida’s Government in the Sunshine and Public Records Laws, and brought many closed-door meetings to a standstill as she spread sunlight upon local government.
She would often guide public discussion as she shared her editorial voice in “Connie’s Corner”, a column permanently affixed to the upper left-hand corner of Page 2A.
She was a founding member of the Lake Placid Merchant’s Association.
Focused on building community, Delaney planned, organized and funded a Community Egg Hunt for the Lake Placid community for more than three decades – turning the paper’s press room into an egg dying assembly line in the early years.
There were no unimportant news items under Delaney’s leadership. Woman’s Club teas received the same respect as a multi-million dollar town water treatment plant being built.
Delaney said she was a tough boss who stayed past midnight most Tuesday evenings getting that week’s paper ready for press.
Delaney found, recruited, and trained generations of journalists – many still in the field – as she preached fact over flash.
