Ben Hill Griffin, Jr.

Ben Hill Griffin Jr. (October 10, 1910 – March 1, 1990) was a prominent American businessman, citrus producer, politician, and philanthropist who was a native and resident of Florida. He was an alumnus of the University of Florida, a former legislator, one-time candidate for governor, and a patron of college sports and higher education in Florida. Several of his grandchildren remain active in Florida politics. Griffin is the subject of the final chapter of John McPhee's work of creative nonfiction Oranges.

Early life and education

Griffin was born during a hurricane in the former town of Tiger Bay, near Fort Meade, Florida. He attended Frostproof High School in Frostproof, Florida, where he was responsible for starting the high school football program in 1929. After graduating from high school, Griffin studied economics, marketing, and agriculture at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity (Alpha Epsilon chapter).

Citrus and agri-business

In 1933, Griffin left the University of Florida, after three years and without earning a degree, to find a job during the Great Depression.

In 1961, Griffin was named to the board of directors of Atlantic Land & Improvement Company, the land-holding subsidiary of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and commonly known as Alico. Alico, Inc. became a publicly traded corporation engaged in citrus fruit, sugarcane and sod production, cattle ranching, and forestry. Griffin acquired a majority of the outstanding stock of Alico in 1972 and became chairman of its board of directors in 1973.

Florida politics

A member of the a Democratic Party, Griffin was a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing Polk County, Florida, from 1956 to 1963. He later served as a member of the Florida Senate, representing the 7th District from 1965 to 1966 and 27th District from 1967 to 1968. In 1974, he lost the Democratic primary for Governor of Florida to Reubin Askew.

Philanthropy

Griffin and his family have been generous donors to higher education in Florida, especially his alma mater, the University of Florida; over the years, he donated more than $20 million to the university and its athletic programs. In 1989, Florida Field, the university's football stadium, was officially renamed Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field. Floyd Hall, one of the university's historic academic buildings, was restored due in part to Griffin's donations and was renamed Griffin-Floyd Hall upon its reopening in 1992.

After Griffin's death, Alico, Inc., the company he built into an agribusiness, contributed approximately in Lee County, Florida for the development of Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), Florida's tenth state university. Alico Arena, FGCU's indoor sports arena, is named for the company. The elementary school in his hometown of Frostproof is also named for Griffin.

Family and legacy

When Griffin died in 1990, he was survived by his wife Eleanor, a son, four daughters, and sixteen grandchildren. Griffin's son continues to serve as the chairman of Ben Hill Griffin, Inc., and one of FGCU's primary academic buildings, Griffin Hall, is named for him. Griffin's grandson and namesake, Ben Hill Griffin, IV, serves as the current president of Ben Hill Griffin, Inc., which is one of the member companies of the Florida's Natural cooperative.

The University of Florida's football stadium, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, viewed from the south endzone. The stadium was known as Florida Field until 1989, when it was officially rechristened "Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field."

Following in the family footsteps, three of Griffin's grandchildren have served in elected political office in Florida. Republican Katherine Harris, a former member of the Florida Senate, former Florida Secretary of State (best known for her role in the disputed 2000 presidential election), and former United States Representative from Sarasota, is Griffin's granddaughter. Republican J.D. Alexander, a former member of both the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate, is his grandson. Republican Baxter Troutman, a former member of the Florida House of Representatives, is also Griffin's grandson.

In 1998, a panel of Florida historians and other consultants named Griffin one of the fifty most important Floridians of the twentieth century.