Former Mayor of Lake Worth - Ron Exline passed away on April 7

Ron and Betty at Murry Hills Show Time 2011

Ronald Exline In Loving Memory of

Ronald Edward Exline

Army Veteran | Former Mayor & City Commissioner

Aurora, IL & Lake Worth Beach, FL
Passed away April 7, 2025

Ronald Edward Exline, a proud U.S. Army veteran and devoted public servant, passed away peacefully on April 7, 2025, after a brief illness.

Born September 21, 1934, and raised in Aurora, Illinois, Ron grew up on a farm with his mother, Ethel Mae Exline, and his grandparents, Henry and Amanda Exline. He excelled in debate and football as a student, and later served honorably during the Korean War. After his military service, Ron led a diverse career-owning a trucking business, working in real estate, serving as a police officer, and ultimately becoming a two-term mayor in both Aurora, IL, and Lake Worth Beach, FL.

In 1975, Ron moved to Lake Worth Beach, where he continued a lifetime of civic engagement. Known for his tireless commitment to veterans, families, the elderly and fair city governance, Ron's leadership made a lasting impact on both communities he served. He was also involved in film, contributing to the production of Body Heat (1981) and Harry and Sons (1983), filmed in Lake Worth Beach, and remained humble despite his connections with stars like Paul Newman. In his later years, Ron served as president of his condominium association and enjoyed music, dancing, the arts, camping and bingo.

Ron was preceded in death by his mother, Ethel Mae, his wife, Carol Ann Boone, and his beloved partner of 35 years, Betty Ann Anderson.

He will be remembered for his charisma, compassion, and deep love for public service. Ron will be laid to rest with military honors at the National Cemetery in Keokuk, Iowa. A private celebration of life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a veterans' charity in Ron's memory.

Rest in peace, Ron. Your service, warmth, and leadership will never be forgotten.

Former Mayor Speaks

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Ron Exline speaking out against the fire assessment

Murry Hills Showtime 2011

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Betty Anderson and Cinderella (Ron Exline)

Last night I attended "Fantasy world" at Murry Hills. It was a fun night with Hanford B. Higgenluper (I can't make up a name like that!) as the master of ceremonies. He was superb as was the entire cast. Our friends Betty Anderson and Ron Exline were "stars" in my mind.

Adoption of Lake Worth Budget and Millage - First Public Hearing

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Chair Ron Exline of the Finance Advisory Board asking "where are the reserved seats for the Board?"

Last night’s city commission meeting should have been cut and dried—set the millage; adopt the capital improvement plan; make other resolutions on the changed revenue estimates in the budget; and rescind the deferred retirement Option Plan. This Commission had already been through full days of budget workshops...30 hours or more. By the time this meeting had started, they knew full well how they were voting on everything, unless, of course, they were all brain dead, The downtown parking pay station issue in city parking lots had an hour of discussion. Even though the public had negatively commented on the idea in the past and a few downtown business owners showed up last night, the Commission voted 3/2 (Jennings, Varela, Golden) to install pay stations downtown. In addition to the “business friendly atmosphere” the three commissioners have now created, they want to shorten the hours of street parking from four hours to two hours. As one member of the public said, to go downtown and watch a football game, have dinner, etc. would be virtually impossible. One merchant pointed out the 40-45% vacant stores in our downtown and suggested that paid parking could create more. The Commission was unphased. Cara Jennings was for raising the millage rate as the solution if downtown parking pay-stations were eliminated. The Mayor was so adamant about it that he said “I will fight to the death” to have paid parking also saying it is just a few blogs that are against it as most cities ALL have parking meters. The only death might very well be that of our downtown businesses. Maxwell’s position was “over his dead body.” Commissioner Golden suggested valet service for the Seniors, etc. These three commissioners literally screwed the residents one more time. Although not a tax, it is. They screwed the downtown businesses for unguaranteed parking revenue. They know that people will still visit our downtown. What they don’t know is how it will affect what has always been the draw to downtown Lake Worth--free parking. This is a prime example of commissioners NOT listening to the public and "knowing what's best" for us. They eliminated the Internal Auditor saying they couldn't afford someone to point out minor things. Scott Menke was paid $50,000 in the past but now the position was going to cost $134,000 (I guess they didn't ask Menke what he would charge) which justified not filling that important position. Staff did not like Menke's past results when he pointed out corruption and financial mistakes even going so far as to suggest that a Finance Director should be prosecuted and pursue civil and criminal remedies for CCNA violations. I want more audits, not less. And once again, where is the forensic audit on the Utility, Mayor? The Commission did approve striping for $50,000. The Mayor voluntarily took a 10% pay-cut and Steven Carr, Finance Director, asked him to put it in writing. Personally, I believe that the commission should have a 150% raise and that still would be small potatoes. After everything was voted on to come back for a second public meeting (September 21 and 22), the Mayor allowed commissioner comments. He did not follow his own agenda....did not follow the rules. The meeting should have adjourned right after the last vote. He then got mad at the city manager. He got mad at Commissioner Maxwell for asking for staff time for his special projects as he had at the Osborne center. He said it was against our Charter and being a scientist he was into rules and proper procedure, or words to that effect. He slapped down his hands on the dais and said “You just don’t get it Commissioner; you had problems before on the commission. You were not elected to be King.” The meeting continued to be adversarial when Commissioner Maxwell accused Commissioner Mulvehill of campaigning from the dais because she agreed with him on NO downtown parking pay-stations. The Chair of the FAB did not have to worry about reserved seating. No one from the Finance Advisory Board was there other than he. What is the use? The Commission has not listened to one recommendation of theirs, has never requested a meeting, and has never even asked for a clarification on a position. The only recommendation they passed last night is rescinding the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP).

Financial Advisory Board

Vice Chair, John Pickett and Chair Ron Exline

I called Ron this morning wondering about his new policy of the public standing when they make commentary in the small conference room. He explained that it is easier for the Board to hear us speak when we stand. I will go along with that, I guess.

Lake Worth's Murry Hills holds meeting

Ron Exline and Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill

Prior to the meeting's start, I passed out Florida Hometown Democracy palm cards explaining the initiative that will be on our ballot on November 2, 2010. The first speaker was Katie McGiveron, Vice President of ROLOH and President of Save Our Neighborhood, who spoke on Amendment 4 and how we, the people, will have a way to protect our hometown. Next, Annabeth Karson spoke on our 2010 Census and the importance of filling it out and sending it in as the tax dollars we receive are based on this count. For some odd reason, some snowbirds have more of a loyalty to the town they live in up north rather than to Lake Worth, a place in which they own property and reside for a good percentage of the year. I talked to one gentleman before the meeting and he saw no good reason to fill it out for Lake Worth to benefit. He only drives on our city streets and uses all of our services for six months of the year but treats this as secondary or of less importance. Annabeth gave him good reasons to help our City. Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill was the main speaker at today's meeting at Murry Hills. She talked on the Sunset Drive parcel that affects all the residents of Murry Hills and the ROLOH neighborhood as well as the beach and casino project. She emphasized all the progress this commission has made and if we have the will, we will make it happen. All her votes are for the benefit of the city and it shines forth in everything she says and does. People felt uplifted after her speech as they now feel that we are going in the right direction.

The crowd at Murry Hills, Commissioner Mulvehill, Katie McGiveron and Annabeth Karson

Financial Advisory Board Results - The Final Two

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Former elected official beaten to a pulp?

More often than we know, senior citizens take abuse. I'm not talking about physical abuse, they get that too, but the other kind--abuse from those who believe because we are older that we just can't cut the cake anymore. Age discrimination is something very real and until you experience it yourself, you can't really relate. I bring this up because of a statement said to me in the parking lot at City Hall after the meeting on Monday night. A friend of Mary Lindsey said that Ron Exline was a bad choice--intimated that he was too old to figure it all out--different times--therefore just not up to snuff was the implication. Personally, I feel that I am more "with it" now than at any other stage of my life and Ron is too. It has all been a growing up experience and those life experiences are invaluable. Albert Einstein said, "The only source of knowledge is experience. " Because the original tally was added incorrectly, the Commission had to re-vote for the final two members to the Board. This mathematical mistake is unfortunate on so many levels. How the voting went: Maxwell…Ron Exline and Mary Lindsey

Jennings…Laurel Decker and Ron Exline

Varela…Laurel Decker and Mary Lindsey

Golden…Laurel Decker and Ron Exline

Mulvehill…Laurel Decker and Ron Exline

I think Mary Lindsey would have been an asset to this board and would have devoted all the necessary time to come up with answers. She did it when she tackled our Utility and the Budget would have received the same amount of attention. However she was not chosen. Her work ethic is tops. That's politics. You can't expect a potential "boss" to hire you when you have shown repeated contempt for them in public.

Laurel Decker who is a CPA will be very valuable to this board. CPA's work under very high ethical standards. They understand principles of professional responsibility, the public interest, integrity, objectivity and take due care and have competence in all that they do. She is non-emotional when it comes to finances. She will get to the heart of the matter.

I know Ron. He is a good friend of mine and I believe him to be a perfect choice for the Financial Advisory Board. Ron Exline, a former Mayor of Lake Worth, worked on government budgets for 8 years. He knows exactly where to look for answers. He has the experience and knows the techniques used in government accounting which is different than general accounting. As he says, “Things aren’t always as bad as Staff says—they have a tendency to hoard.”

Thrift sometimes is not a way of life in government. We need a reformer…someone looking out for the taxpayers. Citizens do come first. Ron will be making sure of that and in his case, age makes no difference when it comes to ability, experience and honesty. He will be the bloodhound on this Board.