City opts not to name building after Harry Baals

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - March 15, 2011

Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry announced the new city and county government center's name Monday.

The most popular choice for the building in an online poll was the "Harry Baals Government Center." The second-place finisher was "Thunder Dome."

The former mayor pronounced his name "balls," although his descendants pronounce their name "bales".

Fort Wayne officials previously said the city wouldn't name the building after Baals because they were worried the name would be ridiculed.

City spokesman Frank Suarez offered a different reason on Monday. He says the mayor didn't want to name the building after a person.

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