Alfred A. McKethan
Encyclopedia
Alfred Augustus McKethan (October 14, 1908 - April 1, 2002) was a prominent American banker, citrus
grower, businessman and political appointee who was a native and resident of Florida
.
, October 14, 1908. He was a fifth-generation Floridian. After graduating from high school
in 1926, McKethan attended the Virginia Military Institute
in Lexington, Virginia
for two years, and completed his education at the University of Florida
in Gainesville, Florida
, where he was a member of Sigma Nu
Fraternity
(Epsilon Zeta Chapter). He graduated with honors from Florida with a bachelor's degree
in business administration in 1931.
. He started work at Hernando State Bank after graduating from the University of Florida in 1931. His first job was that of an assistant cashier, and he later became head cashier, vice president, and then the bank's president in 1940. At the age of 38, McKethan became the youngest president of the Florida Bankers Association. He served as president and chief executive officer
of the Sun Bank and Trust Company until 1994, at which time he retired.
Together with his brother, John W. McKethan, he established the Brooksville Rock Company, which later became known as the Florida Mining and Materials Corporation. McKethan was also a citrus grower, serving as the director and then chairman of the Brooksville Citrus Growers Association for forty years, and as Director of the Florida Citrus Exchange for fifteen years. McKethan served as the president of Florida Citrus Mutual
.
appointed McKethan to be the chairman of the State Road Board; he served from 1949 to 1953. McKethan was responsible, in part, for the construction of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge
across Tampa Bay, as well as for the initial planning of the Florida Turnpike. He also served as the first chairman of the Southwest Florida Water Management District
.
, the University of Florida, for the construction of a new baseball stadium now known as the Alfred A. McKethan Stadium
at Perry Field. Later that year, he was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as an "honorary letter winner.
McKethan wrote a history of Hernando County
, Florida, entitled Hernando County: Our Story, in 1989.
The Hernando County Park on Pine Island, Alfred McKethan Park, was named for him.
McKethan died in 2002; he was 93 years old.
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
grower, businessman and political appointee who was a native and resident of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Early life and education
McKethan was born in Brooksville, FloridaBrooksville, Florida
Brooksville is an incorporated city in Hernando County, Florida, in the United States. It is the county seat of Hernando County. It is a suburban city included in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, October 14, 1908. He was a fifth-generation Floridian. After graduating from high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in 1926, McKethan attended the Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
in Lexington, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
for two years, and completed his education at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where he was a member of Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
Fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
(Epsilon Zeta Chapter). He graduated with honors from Florida with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in business administration in 1931.
Banking and business career
McKethan was the former president and chairman of Hernando State Bank, which became Sun Bank and Trust Company, and, in turn, SunTrust BankSunTrust Banks
SunTrust Banks, Inc., is an American bank holding company. The largest subsidiary is SunTrust Bank. It had US$172.7 billion in assets as of September 30, 2009...
. He started work at Hernando State Bank after graduating from the University of Florida in 1931. His first job was that of an assistant cashier, and he later became head cashier, vice president, and then the bank's president in 1940. At the age of 38, McKethan became the youngest president of the Florida Bankers Association. He served as president and chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the Sun Bank and Trust Company until 1994, at which time he retired.
Together with his brother, John W. McKethan, he established the Brooksville Rock Company, which later became known as the Florida Mining and Materials Corporation. McKethan was also a citrus grower, serving as the director and then chairman of the Brooksville Citrus Growers Association for forty years, and as Director of the Florida Citrus Exchange for fifteen years. McKethan served as the president of Florida Citrus Mutual
Florida Citrus Mutual
Florida Citrus Mutual is the industry trade group representing the citrus industry in the U.S. state of Florida.The group was established in 1948 and claims a membership of 8000 growers. It is led by a 21-member board of directors, elected for one-year terms.-External links:** from the Center for...
.
Political appointments
Florida Governor Fuller WarrenFuller Warren
Fuller Warren was the 30th Governor of Florida.Born in Blountstown, Florida, he attended the University of Florida in Gainesville. While at the University of Florida, he was one of the early members of Florida Blue Key and was a member of the Tau Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity...
appointed McKethan to be the chairman of the State Road Board; he served from 1949 to 1953. McKethan was responsible, in part, for the construction of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
The Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge is a bridge spanning Tampa Bay, Florida, with a cable-stayed main span, and a total length of 21,877 feet . It is part of I-275 and US 19 , connecting St. Petersburg in Pinellas County and Terra Ceia in Manatee County, Florida, passing through Hillsborough...
across Tampa Bay, as well as for the initial planning of the Florida Turnpike. He also served as the first chairman of the Southwest Florida Water Management District
Southwest Florida Water Management District
The Southwest Florida Water Management District , unofficially nicknamed “Swiftmud” or SWFWMD, is one of five regional agencies directed by Florida state law to protect and preserve water resources. Established in 1961 the agency operates and maintains several large properties and flood protection...
.
Philanthropy and retirement
In 1988, Alfred McKethan donated almost $3 million to his alma materAlma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, the University of Florida, for the construction of a new baseball stadium now known as the Alfred A. McKethan Stadium
Alfred A. McKethan Stadium
Alfred A. McKethan Stadium at Perry Field is the college baseball stadium of the University of Florida, and serves as the home field for the Florida Gators baseball team. McKethan Stadium is located on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus, in close proximity to the university's indoor...
at Perry Field. Later that year, he was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as an "honorary letter winner.
McKethan wrote a history of Hernando County
Hernando County, Florida
Hernando County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 130,802. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 165,409 . Its county seat is Brooksville, Florida. The majority of the county's population is in Spring Hill, west portion of Hernando...
, Florida, entitled Hernando County: Our Story, in 1989.
The Hernando County Park on Pine Island, Alfred McKethan Park, was named for him.
McKethan died in 2002; he was 93 years old.
See also
- Florida Gators baseballFlorida Gators baseballThe Florida Gators baseball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of baseball. The Florida Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association , and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference . They play their home games in Alfred A...
- History of FloridaHistory of FloridaThe history of Florida can be traced back to when the first Native Americans began to inhabit the peninsula as early as 14,000 years ago. Recorded history begins with the arrival of Europeans to Florida, beginning with the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, who explored the area in 1513...
- History of the University of FloridaHistory of the University of FloridaThe history of the University of Florida is firmly tied to the history of public education in the state of Florida. The University of Florida, colloquially known as "Florida" or "UF," originated as several distinct institutions that were merged to create a single state-supported university by the...
- List of Sigma Nu brothers
- List of University of Florida honorary degree recipients
- List of University of Florida people
External links
- Citrus Mutual – Official website of Citrus Mutual.
- Florida Department of Transportation – Official website of Florida Department of Transportation.
- Gatorzone.com – Official website of the Florida Gators.
- University of Florida – Official website of the University of Florida.