The Rose Man of Lake Placid

Jeff Klinkenberg: Despite rumors to the contrary, Willard Campbell, the Rose Man of Lake Placid, has been known to sleep. The other day he went to bed at midnight and slumbered five hours. He also napped 45 minutes after lunch.

His reason for being is the cultivation and distribution of roses. For two decades he has grown and given them away by the thousands. That's given away as in free - at a time when a good florist might charge anywhere from $20 to $100 for a dozen.

The Rose Man gives them to hospital patients and to residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. He gives them to bank tellers, waitresses, dental hygienists. His wife, Opal, receives a daily rose, too.

In Lake Placid, population 1,700, the Rose Man is regarded as a kind of Santa Claus. His likeness is even on one of the Central Florida city's celebrated murals.

"I don't know anyone who is more beloved in this community," says Eileen May, the Chamber of Commerce director, after receiving her weekly allotment of roses.

"Well," allows the Rose Man without a smile. "It does give me some pleasure."