At night, Frank McGinley and his wife enjoy the amenities in their
64,000 square foot “home” situated on a square block near downtown Pensacola. The couple’s two dogs roam the fenced property day and night, providing security.
This is a somewhat poetic description of the McGinleys who reside inside one of the structures formerly the A.J. Lockey and Blount Jr. High Schools.
McGinley responded to a recent article in the Escambia Sun Press noting the buildings in a state of disrepair and surrounded by single family dwellings. His story is unique and began when he was a student at the school. “I fell in love with the building and its beauty and I prayed as a child that one day I might come to live here,” says McGinley. Here is the chronicle of events transferring that fanciful thought to reality years later. McGinley joined the military embarking on a career in electronics. On the way a family was built and following twenty years serving his country McGinley retired to Pensacola. Handy with ideas and with his hands, McGinley began acquiring and restoring old homes. The family would live in one until another was found , restored and sold. In the 90’s McGinley discovered an amazing piece of knowledge. The school he dreamed of living in was for sale. The Escambia School Board had tried to sell the closed facility but got no takers. By then the asbestos crisis was flourishing and old buildings with asbestos in them were not popular sale items. McGinley said he went to the administration and made them an offer. He would acquire the buildings and property and would not hold the school system at fault for the problems within. A deal was cut. McGinley bought Blount Jr. High for $5,000.
It was his original intent to convert the facility into a living facility for modest income and/or elderly occupants. The concept was made impossible, says McGinley due to numerous factors. He sought partners but nothing ever came to fruition. The property was wide open, victim of trespassers and vandals. Drastic measures were required and the man who wanted to live there went to work with his bare hands.
McGinley got the property fenced in. He repaired damaged portions as best possible, then with the aid of a close friend, Greg Key, carved out a living area that formerly served as the entry into the Lacky School section. While the building exterior as a whole appears shabby and run down, the suite of rooms designed and installed are as chic and impressive as any Manhattan apartment. The some 1000 square feet living area includes an artfully created living room, a bed and bath a combination dining room with radio equipment and a spotless kitchen . Mrs. McGinley has her own large walk-in closet with a “two story” design. The living room features brightly polished oak floors and thick marble squares fronting a fireplace. Two room air conditioners supply climate control in the facility with 12 foot high ceilings. McGinley comments that with 200 amp service designed for a school, there is plenty of electricity available.
While rehabbing the facility, McGinley and Key tore out an estimated three tons of asbestos products and using federally approved guidelines, hauled it off to the landfill. The property is now considered asbestos free. Hurricane Ivan was no help, tearing the roof off some sections and allowing water to seep in. McGinley and Key have made monumental repairs to necessary parts of the buildings but much awaits either the wrecker’s ball or a huge infusion of cash.

Not long ago, McGinley sold the property. A group of local businessmen calling themselves Blount Redevelopment, LLC, paid McGinley $400,000. Go back to the beginning of this story and you will see that McGinley purchased it for $5,000. A tidy profit in ten years? Not quite. McGinley says he’s spent around $250,000 during that time building his home and keeping the elements ( not to mention interlopers) out. The future direction of the former school lands is not determined at the present time.
The chronicle of events has its usual sidebar stories. A portion of the property is lawn. McGinley says up until recently he mowed the close to two acres of grass with a push mower. McGinley takes issue that residences nearby by are modest and well kept. Several aren’t and he pointed them out.
The new owners want the McGinleys to remain as custodians until the decision is made for the Blount/Lockey facility.But Frank McGinley has a fair idea of his residential future. He's bought a small strip mall on the north side of town and can build living quarters there. There is an alternative. He says he has an invitation to reside on the 5th floor of the old Sacred Heart Hospital building on North 12th Avenue. That would require some construction and design but McGinley and Key seem up to it.
Now if that weren’t enough, McGinley has used his military electronic knowledge to design an antenna which could be saleable to aviation, the military, commercial and amateur radio interests. He plans to control its distribution once a patent is acquired.
During our interview, the power of prayer was mentioned. McGinley believes that his faith in God has allowed him to be as successful as he is.
The career path described here indicates many of those prayers were answered.

EDITORS NOTE: There was disagreement as to the spelling of the name of the original school. Several sources were contacted but none seemed to provide a definite name. Therefore we selected the spelling of the name most commonly associated with a school.