Actor and comedian Paul Lynde (a Mount Vernon native) was once almost a household name for his antics on the 1960s sitcom “Bewitched” and on “The Hollywood Squares” game show in the 1970s.
However, since Lynde’s death in 1981, his name might be all but forgotten among today’s generation of TV watchers.
That’s why a local man, Tony Smith, wants to have a street named in the comedian's honor.
Smith recalls meeting Lynde many years ago through an aunt, Ruth Smith, who graduated from high school with Lynde in 1944.
He told the Mount Vernon News he got to meet the comedian during a 1980 appearance.
“My aunt stopped by my dad's house while Lynde was [in town] performing and told me she wanted me to meet someone,” Smith recalled. “It turned out it was Lynde, and I got his autograph."
Smith is spearheading a drive to get the street leading up to the cemetery where Lynde is buried renamed after the comedian.
Visitors to Mount Vernon were once greeted with a sign that read "Welcome to Mount Vernon: Home to Paul Lynde," according to Smith. He doesn't know what happened to the sign.
Today, the Knox County Historical Society maintains an exhibit for Lynde, but Smith wants to see more recognition given to the performer.
"He recognized [Mount Vernon] was his hometown and came back to perform,” Smith said. “If you watch a biography on YouTube, it delves into his father being the sheriff of Knox County and owning a butcher shop."
County Commissioner Teresa Bemiller said in order to change a street name, residents who live on the road would have to bring a petition, which Smith is unable to do since he doesn't live on the street. But once the commissioners get input from residents, they could consider making a motion to change the name, she said.
The road in question is Gilchrist Road. According to Bemiller, it's a large road with several residents. She said a discussion would have to occur, which has not happened.
"It's a major roadway,” Bemiller said. “So one thing we may consider is changing a portion of the road. And that would be the section closest to the cemetery.”
Smith said he plans to stay the course until something new happens that will honor Lynde's career.
"There are a lot of famous stars that came out of Ohio," he said. "And many of those communities have acknowledged their association. I hope the commissioners will do the same for Lynde."
