It was the early 1980’s. The Gay bars and many others were under the control of the local Tampa mob. If you didn’t do things and pay the mobs there were actions taken. With all that said.. A friend of our Rodney was having an age crisis. He was turning 30 years old!!! Oh My!!! One Monday Night at the Firehouse Pub on Florida Ave & Busch we had a party for him. The small corner bar was a close proximity to USF and had just that fun relaxed feel when you went there. That night we talked Rodney into dancing on the bar top one last time as a male dancer. It was so much fun! We all tipped him and said how great he looked.

    There was talk that night that the club owner was not playing by the rules of the mobs. 2 months later the owner of the bar was found in his car behind the club shot dead. The following year Rodney died of AIDS.

    Times we so different 30 years ago in Tampa.