Beautiful downtown Fort Wayne, with no Harry Baals in sight.

He was a popular mayor for two decades, but he will not be honored with the naming of a new government center, says Fort Wayne, Indiana, Deputy Mayor Beth Malloy.  As it turns out, the time of Harry Baals is over, and no matter the results of an online poll, Fort Wayne will not budge on the issue.  Harry Baals will not give his name to the new government center in Fort Wayne, despite his incredible popularity.

“Harry served four terms and was a wonderful mayor.  I don’t know what the problem is,” said Jim Baals, the grand-nephew of the aforementioned Harry.  “I understand people are going to poke fun at it.  That’s OK.  I’ve lived with that name for 51 years now and I’ve gotten through it.  I think everybody else can, too.”

During his time, Harry’s last name was pronounced ‘balls,’ but these days?  The family prefers ‘bales’ as the proper way to say the name.  I guess the Harry ‘Bales’ Government Center is still too funny, given the spelling of the name.  Either way, I think if he wins the poll, you should go with it.  There are lots of crazy names out there; we can’t pretend they don’t exist.

Tags: Fort Wayne, Indiana, Harry Baals, Harry Baals Government Center, Beth Malloy, Fort Wayne to name government center after Harry Baals, Jim Baals, government center to be named after Harry Baals, Fort Wayne will not name government center after popular ex-mayor, unusual names, funny names

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