Page "Shalimar, Florida" Paragraph 11

Incorporated in June 1947, Clifford Meigs served as its first mayor.

The incorporation was directly related to state law that prohibited clubs in unincorporated areas from staying open from midnight Saturday until Monday morning, which would negatively impact the gambling operations at the casino of the Shalimar Club, the opening of which " was the social event of 1947.

" " The Fort Walton Beach-Fort Walton did not become Fort Walton Beach until June 1953 places were doing a booming business on the weekends while there were rumors that the sheriff might enforce the law in Shalimar and close the place there ," Meigs told the Playground News in 1959.

" The owner came to me and suggested incorporation, and while I didn't think I had much to gain then, I agreed.

With only about three other freeholders in the area, it was a simple matter to get incorporated.

" The reprieve on gambling would be temporary, however.

" The collapse of Okaloosa gambling was brought about by the glare of outside publicity, reform zeal from within and the direct intervention of Gov.

Fuller Warren.

The first wind of adversity was blown by the Tampa Tribunes exposé of gambling in Fort Walton.