SR 56 may be named for senator's mother

WESLEY CHAPEL -- Darce Taylor Crist devoted her life to volunteer work: in Pakistan, in underprivileged communities in Tampa and St. Petersburg, in Pinellas nursing homes.

A park in Treasure Island bears her name, as does a garden near the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Yet despite her legacy of service, Mrs. Crist, who died in December at 77, would not seem a leading candidate for the posthumous honor of having the new State Road 56 in Wesley Chapel dedicated to her memory. After all, Mrs. Crist lived in Pinellas County, not Pasco.

But she does have some heavy hitters in her corner in Tallahassee.

Starting with her son, state Sen. Victor Crist, R-Temple Terrace, whose district includes most of central and east Pasco, including SR 56.

Also on her side is Sen. Alex Villalobos, R-Miami, who offered an amendment to dedicate State Road 56 as "Darce Taylor Crist Boulevard." The 3-mile stretch of blacktop, which opened last year, connects Bruce B. Downs Boulevard with State Road 54.

Crist and Villalobos are longtime friends and political allies who were elected to the state House the same year, 1992.

Villalobos said it was his idea to dedicate the road to the memory of Mrs. Crist. After her death in December, Villalobos said he wanted to do something to honor Mrs. Crist's lifetime of selfless service.

"Just because you're a senator's mother shouldn't disqualify you," Villalobos said. "The criteria is what you did with your life."

Crist had nothing to do with the proposal, Villalobos said.

Said Crist: "I was a little uncomfortable about this because I knew I'd get this phone call from a reporter."

But, he said, "If my mother was not the person she was, this would be different. But my mother gave her life to the community. She set a great example."

The proposal, attached to a larger road designation bill, won Senate approval last week and is now under consideration in the House. The bill, if approved, would direct the state transportation department to erect signs designating SR 56 as "Darce Taylor Crist Boulevard."

Villalobos said he chose SR 56 for the designation because it's in Crist's district and doesn't yet have a name.

Though Mrs. Crist lived in Treasure Island, she volunteered throughout the Tampa Bay area, her son said. She was heavily involved in her son's legislative affairs and his nonprofit activities, including an ambitious redevelopment project in the area near the University of South Florida campus in north Tampa, Crist said. Despite her heart problems, up until her death she cared for 12 nursing home patients, Crist said.

Mrs. Crist made plenty of friends in Pasco, her son said. But her only physical connection to the county is her grave site. She is buried in Trinity.

"I knew somebody would question this," Crist said. "But even if this wasn't my mother, I would still want this. People need to recognize their role models."

Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, whose district includes west Pasco, voted for the road designation.

"I don't see a problem with this," Fasano said. "I've heard some great things about (Mrs. Crist)."

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