NEW TAMPA - Doug Wall devoted the last 20 years of his life to a cultural center in New Tampa - one that supporters say will be a reality in the next three years.
His dream of being a Broadway co-producer also is set to happen next year, an event his family will see for him.
Mr. Wall, 55, co-founder of the New Tampa Players community theater group, died Saturday (Nov. 25) following a nine-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
"This is definitely going to happen," Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist said this week of a 20,000-square-foot, 6,700.
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In addition to the theater company, Mr. Wall organized theater camps for children. The children of State Rep. Shawn Harrison were among the many who attended the program.
"He was a great guy, an incredibly caring person who would go out of his way to help a friend," Harrison said.
Commissioner Crist said there is 2.8 million from the state for use of the center as a hurricane shelter. Harrison said while the center is mainly a city of Tampa and Hillsborough County project, he said he will lend any support he can to such efforts.
"He (Wall) became the public face of an effort to bring the cultural center to New Tampa," Harrison said. "This will be a testament to his belief."
Contact Lenora Lake at hillsnews@tampabay.com.
