A Conversation with Weldon Frost

For retired geologist Weldon Frost, letter writing isn’t a lost art form. Frost, 84, taps out letters to the editor on his computer keyboard to the Longboat Observer when he feels important issues need to be addressed. He recently sat down with the Longboat Observer to discuss everything from oil-drilling to why the local scholarships the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key hands out each year in August are so important. The Kiwanis Club will unveil a $2,000 annual scholarship to a Manatee Technical Institute recipient in Frost’s honor next month after Frost donated half of the scholarship money to be awarded to students at the institute.

Why is it so important to get your opinion out there in the form of writing letters to the editor?

When I see something in the newspaper that ticks me off or a national issue that unnerves me, I write a letter and send it off. It’s something that I enjoy doing and people ought to do more of that. Freedom of speech is what this country is all about.

You were an opponent to the Longboat Key Club referendum that allows Ocean Properties the ability to submit plans for a future new hotel and residences. Why?

I didn’t think it was fairly worded, and Ocean Properties didn’t tell the story of what they are going to do with the units. Where will they transfer the units? It’s not clear. I worry about traffic too. I don’t know enough about it to support it so I voted no.

In your neighborhood of Emerald Harbor, most homes have underground utilities except for a stretch of residences on Binnacle Point Drive, where you live, that see above ground wires in between your development and Spanish Main Yacht Club. Do you support burying utilities?

I’m in favor of how they are doing it. It will cost me 2,600 bucks to get rid of the wires. It’s worth it to get rid of the wires and the benefits that come with a fiber optic network.

Four years ago you alerted the town to what you perceive as a dangerous raccoon problem. Commissioner Lynn Larson is urging the town now to create a townwide nuisance animal program, which has a big emphasis on raccoons. Are things worse or better since you made your plea to the commission?

It’s still a big problem. I quit trapping a while back after catching 34 raccoons in my backyard a few years back. I felt like I was hung out to dry by the commission a few years ago. I made my presentation, and then they just started cracking jokes about raccoons needing to wear condoms.

Should Florida allow oil drilling closer to the shores of Longboat Key?

I happen to believe there’s oil and gas potential offshore between here and the Keys that needs to be explored. You wouldn’t see the rigs if they were off the Key. They don’t want drilling because of the risk of a blowout, but I think that's baloney. There’s always a risk of blowouts when you deal with machinery that can break and humans who make mistakes. That was the perfect storm of what happened with the BP oil spill. Maybe 30 to 40 years from now, when the price of oil is too high, Florida will want a piece of that.

You retired as a Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key member last year after more than 10 years of service as its scholarship chair. What was most rewarding about helping give Kiwanis money to scholarship recipients?

Giving away scholarships was the most satisfying part of Kiwanis for me. It was really rewarding to see the reaction of the people getting scholarships. The recognition is as important to them as the money. I’ve seen the gratitude and the thanks over the years was worth it.

How many years have you rung the bell for Salvation Army? What’s your most lasting memory from that experience?

I’ve been ringing the bell for 26 years now. When they first opened the new Publix, a big guy my age came out and dropped money in it without saying a word. I yelled out, “You look like a Korean war vet!” He turned around briefly, looked me in the eye and said, “I took Pork Chop Hill. Twice.” Then he walked away. Gave me chills.

Why did you leave Kiwanis last year as a member?

There’s a changing of the guard. I feel I had my time. I enjoyed it and got a lot of satisfaction out of it.

What’s your greatest accomplishment?

I’ve had an exceptional life. I had a career for 37 years with Mobil Oil. But the greatest thing you do in life is to raise good kids. But I owe most of that to my wife, Brenda. My wife was there for them when I couldn’t be. She and I raised marvelous kids and I‘m very proud of that.