By Ron Hayes DELRAY BEACH — Russell “R.C.” Croft, who led the
city’s Police Department for more than 30 years, died Nov. 14 in
High Springs after a brief illness. He was 93. “He drove until
three weeks before his death,” said his son, Kenneth. “He was out
of good stock.” Mr. Croft was also out of pioneer stock. His uncle,
Will Croft, was appointed the town’s first marshal in 1911 and
became its first police chief when the separate towns of Delray
Beach and Delray were incorporated in 1927. His father, Lucius
Leroy Croft, was a mayor and councilman. A brother, Victor, was its
fire chief. Known to all as “R.C.,” Mr. Croft was born in McAlpin,
Fla. He moved to Delray Beach in 1936 after his marriage, became
the chief of police in 1941 and served until his retirement in
1972. He moved to High Springs in the early 1990s. Donald C.
Michael, who retired in 1976 as the city’s chief of detectives, was
the ninth man on the force when Chief Croft hired him in 1954. They
served together for 18 years, until Mr. Croft’s retirement. “He was
a good man, and I enjoyed working for him,” said Michael. “He had a
hunting camp out in the Corbett Wildlife preserve and we’d go
hunting deer and hogs together. I never had any difficulty with him
because I knew he was the boss and I respected him.” Mr. Croft was
the police chief in the spring of 1956, when the burgeoning civil
rights movement came to Delray Beach. On May 20, about 35 black
residents arrived at the municipal beach to stage a Sunday
“wade-in” protesting segregation. With nearly 100 white citizens
standing by and more protesters arriving, Chief Croft ordered the
beach closed to both blacks and whites to avoid violence. A week
later, blacks again descended on the beach, whites followed, and
Croft’s officers confiscated guns, hatchets, machetes and other
weapons. By the early 1960s, however, the beach had been
integrated. “He was a very caring man and the finest father anybody
could ever have,” his son said. “He brought me up the old-school
way. If I got out of line, he took care of it — and I didn’t get
out of line too often.” In addition to his son, Mr. Croft is
survived by a daughter, Bettye Goskowski, of Fort White; a brother,
George, of Winder, Ga.; five grandchildren and eight great
grandchildren. His wife, Mayme, and a son, Dennis, preceded him in
death. A funeral service was held Nov. 19 in High Springs, followed
by a Masonic graveside service at Fort White Cemetery. In lieu of
flowers, memorials may be made to the Masonic Home of Florida, 3201
First St. NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33704.
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