In Memoriam

Former Life Trustee Jerry Blaisdell

Jerry Blaisdell (October 4, 1938 – July 9, 2024) worked at Harmon Glass and the Glass Doctor for fifty years. His areas of work included, but were not limited to, the following: shop manager, area manager, account representative locally and, also, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, and North Carolina.

He received many awards, including the Recognition for Employees Citation by Harmon Glass and the Odie Award in 1995, for excellence in attitude and spirit. He received the Winner Circle Award six times for outstanding performance and the Golden Broom Award several times for cleanliness of shop, as well as the Profit Achievement Award in 1991. Jerry was twice cited by Harmon Glass as Manager of the Year.

Jerry was chairman of the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc., for the 2006-2007 term and is currently a trustee. He served as banquet chairman in 2012. He is a member of the Florida State University Boosters, a charter member of the University Center Club, and a member of the Florida Juvenile Detention Advisory Council. Jerry is active in the annual regional charity Chili Cookoff, the Boys Scouts of America, and United Fund.

Jerry served in the US Army for 10 years as a S.F.C., E-7, and is an American Legion member.

He served in various roles for the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, was a Salvation Army Board member, was president of the Glass Association of Florida, member of the Independent Insurance Agents Association, Tallahassee Claims Association, first male member of the Tallahassee Insurance Women, Springtime Tallahassee member, and congregant in the Wildwood Presbyterian Church.

His hobbies included golf, travel, RV camping and anything related to sports. He is survived by his wife Onez O’Neal, son, Jim Blaisdell (wife Johanna), step son, John O’Neal, step daughter, Juli Downs (husband Phillip), and four grandchildren, Nicholas Blaisdell, Casey O’Neal, Lauren Dimartino, and Slade Downs.

Former Trustee William Owen

William “Bill” Owens (January 21, 1942 – March 23, 2012) was born in Tallahassee, Florida to Mr. and Mrs. George E. Owen. He graduated from Leon High School where he was a member of the golf and basketball teams. He attended the University of Florida, 1960-1964, graduating with a major in accounting and a minor in finance. He was a member of SAE fraternity. After graduating from Florida, Bill attended law school at the University of Nebraska. Graduating in 1967, he served as a member of the law review, the national moot court team, and having attained the academic distinction of “Order of the Coif” typically awarded to the top 5 percent of the class.

In 1967, Bill returned to Tallahassee where he clerked for the Honorable Richard W. Ervin, Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court. After his clerkship he entered the private practice of law in 1971. In 1988, Bill was appointed to the Board of Directors of Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society, the fourth largest fraternal benefit society in the United States. Bill served as Chairman of the Audit Committee, until he became the Chairman of the Board, the first independent director to attain this position in Woodmen’s 120-year history. Bill retired from Woodmen in February 2012. He is survived by his wife Carolyn Owen.

Former Trustee Jim Conner

James Terrell Conner (July 31, 1937 – December 2, 2013) was born to Terrell and Lenora Conner. James grew up in Cordele where he was active in sports at Cordele High School. He was a radio announcer at the local radio station. He attended technical school and was an Army veteran.

James met and married his wife of 55 years, Joan Pipkin Conner. They had two children, one son, James Gregory Conner (Margaret Conner) and a daughter, Brenda Conner Etheridge.

Through James’ involvement with the kids he coached youth baseball for both boys and girls and was a scout master for many years for Boy Scouts of America.

James was a devoted Florida State Seminole fan attending football, baseball and basketball games on a regular basis. Further, he was also a member and past President of the Tallahassee Quarterback club; charter member and on Board of Directors of the University Center Club, charter member of the Biletnikoff Foundation, and an active member of the Seminole Boosters.

James retired from Centel Telephone Company in 1984 and currently worked with Community Realty of Killearn and was an active member of the Tallahassee Board of Realtors.

James was an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church.

James was preceded in death by his parents, his sister (Joyce Young) and brother-in-law, W.R. Harrelson. He is survived by his sister, Shirley Duke (Carl) and a brother, Jack Conner. Further survivors include his cherished grandchildren, Amanda “Mandy” Etheridge, Amber Etheridge, James Tyson “Ty” Conner and John Marc Conner and numerous nieces and nephews.

Former Life Trustee and Congressman Bill Gunter

The Honorable Bill Gunter (July 16, 1934 – April 8, 2024). After graduating with high scholastic honors from the University of Florida in 1956, Bill served in the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1958. He began his insurance career in 1959 with State Farm Insurance Companies in Orlando and in 1961 was elevated to Regional Agency Manager.Bill was a career public official in Florida serving in the Florida Senate from 1966 through 1972, where he was Chairman of the Legislative Audit Committee, Appropriations Sub-committee, Citrus Committee and Vice Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. He was elected to the United States Congress in 1972 from Florida’s Fifth Congressional District. While in Washington, he was a member of the Agriculture and Science and Astronautics Committees and the Energy Subcommittee. From 1976 through 1988, Bill served on the Florida Cabinet as State Insurance Commissioner and Treasurer. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners elected Bill as their President in 1983 and in 1988 he was named “Most Effective Insurance Commissioner in the United States” by the National Insurance Consumers Organization. The National Association of State Treasurers elected Bill as their President in 1981. In 1989, Bill joined Rogers-Atkins Insurance as a shareholder partner and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the successor firm, Rogers, Gunter, Vaughn Insurance, Inc. Bill served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents beginning in 2003 and was elected Chairman of the Board in 2010. In 2012, he received the Association’s highest honor, the Mitchell Stallings Memorial Award. In 2013, Bill was designated as “A Great Floridian” by Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet in recognition of his lifelong record of public service. Bill also received the Stephen C. O’Connell Distinguished Service Award from the University of Florida in recognition of his “outstanding contributions as an extraordinary public servant for our State and Nation”. In recent years, Bill has been very active in the Rotary Club of Tallahassee, the largest civic organization in the Big Bend with over 200 members. He currently serves the Club as President. Additionally, he is Chairman of the Board of the Florida Historic Capitol Museum Foundation and is past president of The Economic Club of Florida. Bill has been happily married to his wife Kathy for 13 years and has two daughters, two sons, a step daughter and step son and together they have 15 grandchildren.

Former Life Trustee Les McLean II

Les McLean II (June 12, 1940 – January 18, 2025). After 44 years in banking Les retired as City President of Peoples First Bank in 2008. Previously he was Senior Vice President with Barnett Bank of Tallahassee and Executive Vice President of SunTrust Bank of Tallahassee. He currently is a Real Estate Broker with NAI/Talcor Commercial Real Estate Services and President of Southern Highland Investments, LLC. He graduated from Florida State University in 1964 with a Business Administration degree. He later graduated from the ABA Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin and the ABA National School of Real Estate at Ohio State University. Active in the community, he previously served as a member and Chairman of the Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority, a member and Chairman of the Tallahassee/Leon County Zoning Commission, the President of the Tallahassee Mortgage Banking Association, President of the Tallahassee YMCA, member of the Board of Directors of the SunTrust Bank of Tallahassee and other organizations. He currently is active in the Economic Club of Florida and the Tallahassee, Florida and National Board of Realtors. He is member of Faith Presbyterian Church. He has been married to Arwena Bell for 50 years and has two children and 5 grandchildren. He became a Trustee in 2017.

Former Trustee Joe West

Joseph J. West, Ph.D. (August 13, 1944 – January 10, 2019) was an educator, leader, mentor and creator who impacted many people and students throughout his life and career.

Dr. West began his career in the Navy where he dedicated 22 years, proudly rising from Seaman Recruit to Lieutenant Commander. During Vietnam, he served two tours in country as a corpsman for the United States Marines and served one tour on ship, stationed offshore of Vietnam. During his time in the Navy Dr. West earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Hospitality Management from Cornell University and his Master of Science in Systems’ Management from the University of Southern California.

After the Navy, Dr. West managed numerous restaurants, but soon realized that teaching was his true passion. In 1988, he graduated with a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech University and joined Florida State University as a professor and then chairman of the Department Hospitality Administration.

While at Florida State University Dr. West was instrumental in founding and developing the University Center Club in partnership with Club Corporation of America and the Seminole Boosters. During his eight years of leadership, the Department of Hospitality Administration received the largest cash gift ever made to Florida State University at that time and raised over $20 million.

Joe was a dynamic trustee of the Foundation that created and sponsors the Biletnikoff Award, which recognizes college football’s outstanding receiver at any position.

After FSU, Joe served for ten years as Dean, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, and one year as Vice Provost, Biscayne Bay Campus of Florida International University. During his tenure as dean he co-founded the South Beach Wine and Food Festival and established a satellite campus in Tianjin, Peoples Republic of China – the first United States University to do so – which currently has an enrollment of over 1,200 students. His entrepreneurial initiatives brought over $24 million to the school.

In retirement Joe moved to Everglades City, FL, with his wife Liz but he could not relinquish his commitment to teaching and supporting others. He joined the faculty of Miami- Dade College in 2012 and continued to teach and develop Work Force Training classes until August 2018. He also volunteered in his local community, serving as President of the Lion’s Club and leading volunteer efforts after Hurricane Irma.

Dr. West was especially proud of his children: Wanda Hamilton, Joseph J. West, Jr. Mary Beth Hamilton and Travis West. He also has eight grandchildren, with another on the way, and two great-grandchildren.