Ben Hill Griffin Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ben Hill Griffin Jr. |
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| Member of the Florida Senate | |
| In office 1965–1968 |
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| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from Polk County |
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| In office 1956–1963 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | October 20, 1910 Tiger Bay, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | March 1, 1990 (aged 79) Avon Park, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Laura Frances Pearce
(m. 1933)Eleanor Frances Wise
(m. 1971) |
| Alma mater | University of Florida |
| Known for | Businessman Citrus Grower Politician Philanthropist |
Ben Hill Griffin Jr. (born October 10, 1910 – died March 1, 1990) was a very important businessman, citrus farmer, and politician from Florida. He was also a generous person who gave a lot to schools and sports. He studied at the University of Florida and later served in Florida's government. Many of his grandchildren are still involved in politics in Florida today.
Contents
Who Was Ben Hill Griffin Jr.?
His Early Life and School Days
Ben Hill Griffin Jr. was born in a small town called Tiger Bay, Florida, during a hurricane. He went to Frostproof High School. While there, he helped start the school's first football team in 1929! After high school, he went to the University of Florida. He studied subjects like economics, which is about money and business, and agriculture, which is about farming. He was also part of a student group called the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity.
Building a Citrus Empire
In 1933, Ben Hill Griffin Jr. left college to find work during a tough time called the Great Depression. He couldn't find a job in New York City, so he came back to Florida. He started his own business with a 10-acre orange grove, which was a wedding gift from his dad. He worked hard and turned that small grove into a huge citrus business!
Later, he became involved with a company called Alico, Inc. This company grew citrus fruits, sugarcane, and even raised cattle. In 1972, he bought most of Alico's shares and became the boss. He also ran his family's business, Ben Hill Griffin, Inc., which focused on farming. By 1989, he was one of the richest people in America, showing how successful he had become.
Serving Florida in Politics
Ben Hill Griffin Jr. was also active in politics as a member of the Democratic Party. He served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1956 to 1963. This is where laws are made for the state. After that, he was a member of the Florida Senate from 1965 to 1968. In 1974, he tried to become the Governor of Florida, but he did not win the election.
Giving Back to His Community
Ben Hill Griffin Jr. and his family were very generous. They gave over $20 million to the University of Florida, where he went to school. This money helped both the school and its sports teams. In 1989, the university's football stadium, known as Florida Field, was renamed Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in his honor. Another building, Floyd Hall, was also restored with his help and renamed Griffin-Floyd Hall in 1992. He was even recognized in the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame for his support of the Florida Gators sports programs.
After he passed away, his company, Alico, Inc., donated a large piece of land in Florida. This land helped create Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), which is now one of Florida's state universities. The sports arena at FGCU is called Alico Arena, named after his company. There is also an elementary school in his hometown named after him.
His Family's Lasting Impact
Ben Hill Griffin Jr. passed away in 1990. He left behind his wife, a son, four daughters, and sixteen grandchildren. His son, Ben Hill Griffin III, continued to run the family business. He was the CEO of Alico until 2004. Today, his son is still the chairman of Ben Hill Griffin, Inc. A building at FGCU, Griffin Hall, is named after him. His grandson, Ben Hill Griffin IV, is now the president of Ben Hill Griffin, Inc. This company is part of the Florida's Natural cooperative, which is known for its orange juice.
Many of Ben Hill Griffin Jr.'s grandchildren have also become politicians in Florida. His granddaughter, Katherine Harris, served in the Florida Senate and as Florida Secretary of State. His grandsons, J.D. Alexander and Baxter Troutman, also served in the Florida House of Representatives and Senate.
In 1998, experts in Florida history said that Ben Hill Griffin Jr. was one of the fifty most important people in Florida during the 1900s.
See also
- Florida Gators football
- History of Florida
- History of the University of Florida
- List of Pi Kappa Phi alumni
- List of University of Florida alumni
- List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members
