LAKELAND, Fla. (January 18, 2010 – Florida Citrus Mutual) – The Selection Committee for The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame has announced four distinguished leaders will be inducted into the Hall as part of the 2010 class. They include Earl M. “Duke” Crittenden (deceased) of Orlando, Bernard A. Egan (deceased) of Ft. Pierce, Harold B. McTeer of Winter Haven and Howard E. Sorrells of Arcadia will be honored during luncheon scheduled on Friday March 5, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. in the Hollis Wellness Center at Florida Southern College in Lakeland.
Crittenden, former President and CEO of Crittenden Fruit Company, has been described as one of “the giants of the Florida Citrus Industry.” He worked in citrus for more than 50 years – starting from scratch and emerging with a diversified citrus empire that included growing, harvesting, packing, processing and trucking. A former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, Crittenden was a major political force, protecting the industry on key issues. He was a member of the Florida Citrus Commission in addition to serving on the boards of Florida Citrus Mutual, Seald-Sweet Growers, Citrus Central Inc. and the Growers Administrative Committee. Crittenden was a 1953 graduate of the University of Florida. He was an honorary member of the Florida Blue Key, the university’s prestigious public service fraternity, and a charter member of the UF Bull Gators.
Egan was actively involved in the development and growth of Florida’s fresh citrus industry for more than 65 years. He had a strong commitment to marketing the highest quality products possible. The former CEO of Bernard Egan & Company, he formed DNE Sales and guided it to become the largest marketing agent in the United States of fresh Florida citrus. Egan was a pioneer in the development of export markets to Japan for fresh Indian River grapefruit. He also expanded European markets for fresh Florida citrus. Egan was a Florida Citrus Commissioner, Chairman and President of the Indian River Citrus League and President of United Growers and Shippers Association. He was inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2002.
A Haines City citrus grower, McTeer also worked as a DuPont sales representative for 27 years. He traveled the state teaching growers how to use herbicides safely and effectively in their groves. He is one of only 15 inductees in the worldwide DuPont Crop Protection Sales and Marketing Hall of Fame, the highest honor within the DuPont organization. Known as the “go-to” guy for many growers in the production area, McTeer served 25 years as one of the longest-standing board members of the Haines City Citrus Growers Association. McTeer was a key grower-cooperator with the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) Plant Improvement Team in Lake Alfred. He was always available to provide land, time and materials for CREC’s rootstock and scion trials. His contributions allowed many field research projects to become realities and benefit the entire citrus industry.
Sorrells’ quiet leadership and commitment to the industry served as a steady, guiding force during export market expansion efforts and the redirection of industry marketing strategies. During his tenure as chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission, Florida orange juice sales increased by $1.5 billion dollars per year at a time when growers were producing record crops. He was also instrumental in establishing a mechanical harvesting research program to help growers improve harvesting efficiency and reduce costs. As President of Sorrells Brothers Packing Co. Inc. and a Director of Sorrells Groves, he has been involved with the Florida citrus industry for 58 years. He has been on the Board of Florida Citrus Mutual. He has also been a member of the Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association and the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association. In addition to citrus, he is a past President of the National Watermelon Association and was awarded that association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame honors distinguished leaders who have made significant contributions to the Florida citrus industry. The Citrus Hall of Fame display and Archive Center is located within the McKay Archive Building at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. For more information on members of the Citrus Hall of Fame, visit the web site at www.FloridaCitrusHallofFame.com which includes access to biographies and photos on all members, noting their accomplishments and including various industry links.
Tickets to the luncheon, which is sponsored by Florida Citrus Mutual and The Florida Department of Citrus, will be $50 per person; $100 for a Patron member, which ensures a reserved seat and an invitation to an OJ Reception with the inductees; or $1000 for a Patron table, which is a reserved table of 8 complete with signage, mention in the program and inclusion in the OJ Reception with the inductees. Tickets are available by calling (863) 682-1111. For more information, please contact Brenda Eubanks Burnette at (561) 351-4314 or John Jackson at (352) 267-3227.
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