| 1 | House Resolution |
| 2 | A resolution honoring the late Copeland D. Newbern, Jr. |
| 3 |
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| 4 | WHEREAS, Copeland D. Newbern, Jr., familiarly known as |
| 5 | "Cope," a North Carolinian by birth but a Floridian by choice, |
| 6 | was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture by the |
| 7 | University of Florida in 1933 and was later honored as a |
| 8 | recipient of the university's Distinguished Alumni Award, and |
| 9 | WHEREAS, until his death on October 29, 2005, Mr. Newbern |
| 10 | maintained strong ties to his alma mater, as evidenced by his |
| 11 | service as a member of the University of Florida Foundation |
| 12 | Board and the UF/IFAS Share Council and by the establishment, |
| 13 | with his wife, Edna, of a $1 million endowment for agricultural |
| 14 | scholarships, and |
| 15 | WHEREAS, after receiving his degree, Mr. Newbern taught at |
| 16 | Hernando High School; thereafter served as the agricultural |
| 17 | agent for that county; and, in 1945, moved to Tampa, where he |
| 18 | demonstrated his entrepreneurial expertise in the citrus gift |
| 19 | business, an enterprise eventually expanded to include citrus |
| 20 | groves in five counties, including the landmark "Newbern |
| 21 | Groves," a 40-acre tract of citrus in Hillsborough County along |
| 22 | North Nebraska Avenue, and |
| 23 | WHEREAS, Mr. Newbern was a valued member of the boards of |
| 24 | the Florida Citrus Commission, the Florida Fresh Fruit Shippers, |
| 25 | and the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association and was |
| 26 | inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1999, and |
| 27 | WHEREAS, Mr. Newbern also served on many other boards, |
| 28 | including his service as Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of |
| 29 | Atlanta, Jacksonville Branch; as Curator for Stephens College in |
| 30 | Columbia, Missouri, where he was elected Honorary Life Member of |
| 31 | the Board of Curators in 1982; and as a trustee for the Florida |
| 32 | Institute of Technology, NOW, THEREFORE, |
| 33 |
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| 34 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
| 35 | Florida: |
| 36 |
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| 37 | That the House of Representatives honors the memory of |
| 38 | Copeland D. Newbern, Jr., one of Florida's outstanding citizens, |
| 39 | and extends its heartfelt condolences to his wife, his children, |
| 40 | and his grandchildren. |
| 41 | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be |
| 42 | presented to Mrs. Edna Newbern as a tangible token of the |
| 43 | sentiments expressed herein. |