Florida Citrus Industry Icon Ben Hill Griffin III Passes Away
July 27, 2020 
The name Ben Hill Griffin III and Florida citrus are synonymous. Griffin recently passed away at 78. His presence and industry influence will be missed. Photo courtesy of Florida Department of Citrus
The Florida citrus industry received the sad news that Ben Hill Griffin III passed away over the weekend after a short battle with cancer at the age of 78. Griffin was born in Frostproof on March 3, 1942 to Ben Hill Griffin, Jr. and his wife, Frances.
One of five children, he was the only boy. And at nine years old, Griffin was in the nursery hoeing and sprouting citrus trees. He spent his holidays and summers either in the groves or at the ranch working under the watchful eye of his father.
He attended the University of Florida and then Central Florida Community College where he earned his AA degree before coming back home. At age 21, he spent a year at the Lake Alfred Experiment Station going through each department to get exposure to the various facets of the industry. While there, he worked under two other Citrus Hall of Fame members (Griffin was inducted in 2009), Dr. Robert Koo and Dr. Bill Grierson. Then it was into the family business, where he worked under various managers learning the ropes. Eventually, his father welcomed him into the company, naming him President and COO of Ben Hill Griffin, Inc.
Griffin’s only son, Ben “Hill” IV, who is now carrying on the family legacy as a board member of Citrus World and President and COO of Ben Hill Griffin, Inc., had to work his way through the company first in keeping with the same training that his father was given.
File photo of Ben Hill Griffin III and his son “Hill.”
Photo courtesy of Griffin Fertilizer Co.
Griffin served on many boards and advocacy roles, including a stint as Chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission. Griffin had been a staunch advocate for Florida citrus through very difficult times, facing challenges aggressively and remaining optimistic that the industry could prevail over the myriad of problems it has faced over the last decade.
Nowhere is that more evident than in his recent plantings along Highway 27 near Frostproof, and his quiet strength and leadership has encouraged other growers to do the same. A strong supporter of UF/IFAS, he had embraced the importance of research as a means to find solutions to the diseases now facing the industry, while at the same time encouraging discussions about best practices in the interim.
“Mr. Griffin’s passing is a tragic loss for Florida’s citrus industry,” says Peter Chaires, Executive Vice President of the Florida Citrus Packers and the Executive Director of the New Varieties Development and Management Corp. “He was more than an iconic leader and a larger than life figure. He was a staunch supporter and advocate for every segment of Florida citrus. He understood the big picture. He was closely engaged with processing, growing, packing, nursery production, nutrition, and so much more. His influence touched every piece of this industry. We’ve lost a friend, a leader, a colleague, and a key ally. The world is a very different place today, but he built a foundation and a legacy that will live on. Though the services will be private, we extend our love and sympathy to the Griffin family.”
“The presence of his leadership was always felt and appreciated,” says Mike Sparks, Executive Vice President and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. “And, I am talking about decades of his leadership. He was very supportive of the Department of Citrus marketing efforts and very supportive of Mutual whether it was political issues or international trade issues. And he was a big supporter of research and the need for more of it.
“During these decades of leadership, on so many topics as long as I can remember, industry people always wanted to know where Ben Hill stood on an issue. Was he for it or against it? That is a reflection of what this industry thought of him — no matter the segment — they respected and valued his judgement.”
Click here to read the full obituary.
If you have any fond memories of Mr. Griffin, or wish to express condolences, please share in the reader comment section below.
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