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Longtime Apopka mayor John Land, 94, dies

APOPKA, Fla. — Longtime Apopka mayor John Land died Saturday. He was 94 years old.

The Tri-County League of Cities renamed its Lifetime Achievement Award in the former mayor's honor and awarded it to him Friday evening.

On his way home from the banquet, Land complained of a headache.

He was taken to Florida Hospital in Orlando, where he died of a massive stroke at about noon Saturday.

Land was elected mayor in 1949. With the exception of three years, he served as mayor from January 1950 until his electoral defeat to Mayor Joe Kilsheimer in April 2014.

"He established a lot of foundational things about the City of Apopka that will serve the city well and make this city successful in the future," Kilsheimer said.

A public memorial will be held Wednesday.

Beginning at 10 a.m., Land will lie in state at Apopka's City Hall, which will be followed by a memorial service at the VFW Apopka Community Center at 519 South Central Ave. at 2 p.m.

The former mayor will be laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery in Orlando.

The public is invited to attend each of Wednesday's events honoring Land.