Avid Gator booster and noted Ocala attorney passes away
Wayne McCall also was a major supporter of the Take Stock in Children program, for which he helped raise $1M in scholarships.
Wayne McCall. [Submitted photo]
If you are a Florida Gators football fan, chances are you may have heard of, or knew, one of the team’s biggest fans and supporters, Wayne McCall. The longtime Ocala attorney played for the team years ago and then spent a lifetime cheering them on from the sidelines. McCall, who was 78, passed away on June 23.
McCall was a 1964 graduate of Ocala High School. At the University of Florida, he was a three-year football letterman and team captain for the Gators. He played as a linebacker and helped lead the team to victories in the Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl.
A young Wayne McCall was a member of the University of Florida Gator football team. [Submitted photo]
Beth McCall said her husband was one of seven brothers raised on the land that would later become the site of the Fort King National Historic Landmark and always very athletic.
“With so many boys, there was always a ball in play—being bounced, thrown or hit. He stood out in athletics, particularly football, earning a scholarship to the University of Florida. As a young adult, his passion for sports continued; he was an avid early-morning runner and developed strong skills in tennis. Alongside his athleticism, Wayne was a dedicated student and lifelong reader, always eager to learn,” she shared.
Following his graduation from UF in 1968, Wayne served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, where he earned the Joint Services Commendation Medal. He returned to UF to pursue law and graduated with honors from the Levin College of Law in 1972. He became a partner at the Ayres Cluster Law Firm. It was shortly after that, that he met his future wife.
“Wayne and I both moved to Ocala in August of 1973. One of the partners in Ayres Cluster Law Firm, where Wayne was invited to practice law, was Lanny Curry. I’d met Lanny and his brother Craig, now Commissioner Craig Curry, while I was visiting family prior to my move. Craig set Wayne and I up on a blind date. Neither one of us liked blind dates but Craig convinced us both that we should go out with each other. Our date consisted of cooking steaks on a grill and watching NFL football. My father was a college football player so watching a game was not unusual for me. We got along very well, and the rest is history,” Beth said.
The two were married in 1975 and together had three children, Diana, Melody and Matt.
“After returning to Ocala to practice law, Wayne quickly became a Gator Booster. He loved attending Gator football games and reconnecting with his former teammates. The Gators were always a major part of his life—when football season rolled around, he was all in. His hobbies naturally revolved around sports. In our younger years, tennis was his favorite, but later he took up golf, although he never loved it like tennis,” Beth added.
Over a career that spanned four decades, Wayne was a board-certified civil trial lawyer and certified civil trial advocate. He was a member of the Fifth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission and chaired the Fifth District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission. He was active in many organizations, including the Florida Bar, Marion County Bar Association and national trial lawyer groups.
He was a founding member and president of the Rotary Club of Metropolitan Ocala, served on the Public Education Foundation Board of Directors, was a Take Stock in Children mentor, participated in Junior Achievement of North Central Florida, served on the board of the Scott Carrigan baseball field and was an active member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.
“Wayne’s life serves as a reminder of the difference one person can make. Wayne was a champion for children. He was instrumental in establishing the Memorial Golf Tournament and Moot Thomas Golf Scramble, which together raised over $1 million in scholarship funding for students in Take Stock in Children, a scholarship and mentoring program through the Public Education Foundation of Marion County,” said Meghan Magamoll, executive director of the foundation.
“These scholarships provided hundreds of students from Marion County Public Schools with the opportunity to pursue higher education, regardless of their financial circumstances or family hardships. His contributions to public education and student scholarships have transformed lives and will continue to do so for generations to come,” she said.
FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Wayne was such a fan of Stephen R. Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” that he became a certified Covey trainer.
“He was a passionate believer in ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ and incorporated its principles into his daily life. He frequently quoted Covey to our children, using those insights to help them navigate life’s challenges. His commitment to the ‘7 Habits’ was so strong that he became a certified Covey trainer, leading numerous workshops throughout Ocala,” Beth explained.
And, speaking of children, Beth noted that, “Family meant everything to Wayne. He was a devoted and loving husband and father who held high expectations for our children, always encouraging them to reach their full potential. He provided unwavering support and ensured they had the tools and opportunities they needed to succeed. Boundaries were clearly set and when they were crossed, Wayne handled it with intention—bringing them into a room, carefully questioning their choices and delivering a fair, thoughtful consequence. He coached Little League and soccer, worked backstage at ballet performances and, if he promised to be there, he always was. He never let them down.”
Beth spoke of prominent memories for the family, such as summer trips to the Bahamas, winter ski adventures in Colorado, weekends at the lake and, “of course, countless Gator football games.”
“But the memory that stands out most, and will forever live on with me, our children and now our grandchildren, is the Silver Sixties. More than 50 years ago, the young men who played football under Coach Ray Graves in the 1960s began a tradition: an annual reunion they called the Silver Sixties. Every June, these teammates—along with their families—gather for a weekend filled with laughter, memories and deep connection. In fact, the most recent reunion took place June 20–22 at Innisbrook Resort, with more than 80 in attendance,” she noted.
“These Gators are more than old friends—they are family. Our children, and now our grandchildren, have grown up side-by-side. We’ve vacationed together, celebrated milestones like weddings and birthdays, and supported one another through life’s hardest moments. Although my family and I couldn’t attend this year, we felt the love, support and prayers that were sent our way. The Silver Sixties is more than a cherished memory—it’s a lasting bond, a tradition, and a beloved part of our lives that will continue for generations to come.”
Wayne was preceded in death by his father, Wayne McCall; his mother, Catherine McCall; and his brother, George McCall. He is survived by Beth; children Diana Scroggie (Josh), Melody Hardy and Matt McCall (Allison); grandchildren Collin, Grady, McCall, Jack, Brooklyn, Kylie and Maverick; brothers John (Janice), Bill (Crystal), Mike (Marilyn), Bob and Dan (Jaky); and extended family, colleagues, teammates and friends.
A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on July 11 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 800 SE 41st Ave., Ocala. A reception will follow at the Country Club of Ocala.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Public Education Foundation of Marion County Take Stock in Children Program, 1239 NW 4th St, Ocala, FL 34475 or pefmc.org; Empath Hospice of Marion County Foundation, Nancy Renyhart Dementia Education Campaign, PO Box 4860, Ocala, FL 34478; or St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 800 SE 41st Ave., Ocala, FL 34471.
As for her husband’s legacy, Beth said he leaves behind more than one.
“He mentored countless young attorneys who began their careers at his law firm, demonstrating a deep commitment to guiding the next generation. His love for the University of Florida was unwavering, as was his passion for the Public Education Foundation’s Take Stock in Children program,” she said. “Perhaps his most profound legacy, and one he would be most proud of, is his final gift to the University of Florida: the donation of his brain for medical research. If this research can advance the understanding of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Parkinson’s disease or dementia—and ultimately help others—then Wayne’s legacy of service, generosity and love for others will continue to live on.”
The McCall family, with patriarch Wayne in center. [Submitted photo]
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