Daniel McClure, president of West Coast Tomato, dies at 80
Daniel McClure, president of West Coast Tomato, dies at 80
Daniel Peyton McClure, president and chief operating officer of West Coast Tomato Inc. and McClure Farms in Palmetto, FL, died Sept. 23 at his home in Bradenton, FL, after a battle with liver cancer. He was 80 years old.
A lifetime resident of Manatee County, he was born Feb. 8, 1926 in Palmetto to Versenoia Thomas McClure and John Niel McClure Sr.
He graduated from Palmetto High School and the University of Florida, where he received a degree in finance and economics. He served in the U.S. Navy.
Mr. McClure was past president and director of the Florida Tomato Exchange and chairman of the Florida Tomato Committee; a board member of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association; a member and former director and officer of the Manatee County Farm Bureau; a member of the state and national farm bureaus; a member and former director of the Manatee County Cattlemen's Association; and a member of the state and national cattlemen's associations.
Mr. McClure received the Martin Luther King Jr. Outstanding 2005 Citizenship Award from the Palmetto Youth Center for Community Service, and in 2006, he received the Distinguished Service Medal from the University of Florida's Department of Agriculture. Most recently, in September, he was recognized by the Florida Tomato Committee for his outstanding service to the Florida tomato industry.
He served as a board member and past chairman on the Manatee County Commission from 1962 to 1978, where he was instrumental in creating the Manatee County dam and water systems, county sewer system, ambulance service, and full-time park and recreation department.
He was also influential in the building of the Sarasota-Manatee Airport while serving as a member and chairman on the Airport Authority Board. In 2003, the airport authority dedicated the room in which the authority meets as the Dan McClure Room.
Mr. McClure also served as a board member and chairman of the board of trustees and finance committee of Trinity Methodist Church in Bradenton, FL, where he was actively involved in the building of the sanctuary and taught Sunday school for 22 years.
Mr. McClure was a member of the Manatee Memorial Hospital board; past director and division chairman of the United Way of Manatee County; past board member and chairman of the West Coast Inland Navigational District; member and past chairman of the Sarasota-Bradenton Authority; as well as a member of the Bradenton Kiwanis Club, Manatee County Heart Association and Manatee County Lung Association.
Additionally, Mr. McClure was a past member and chairman of the board of directors of NationsBank and a past board member of the First Union National Bank and Wachovia Bank.
Mr. McClure suffered disabling injuries in 1971 when a truck pinned him against a loading dock at a company tomato-packing plant. Over the course of many hospital stays and operations, he remained active in both his public service and professional roles, often participating in meetings by phone from his hospital bed.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Corrine Anderson McClure; four children: Sandra Lamme of Gainesville, FL, Scott McClure and Mary Anne Spencer, both of Bradenton, FL, and Daniel Carr (DC) McClure of Palmetto, FL; and seven grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made, if desired, in his memory to the Trinity United Methodist Church in Bradenton, FL, or to the endowment funds of Hospice-Bradenton, the Manatee County Salvation Army, Bradenton Christian School, United Way of Manatee County or Manatee Community Foundation.
A memorial service was held Sept. 26 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Bradenton.
A lifetime resident of Manatee County, he was born Feb. 8, 1926 in Palmetto to Versenoia Thomas McClure and John Niel McClure Sr.
He graduated from Palmetto High School and the University of Florida, where he received a degree in finance and economics. He served in the U.S. Navy.
Mr. McClure was past president and director of the Florida Tomato Exchange and chairman of the Florida Tomato Committee; a board member of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association; a member and former director and officer of the Manatee County Farm Bureau; a member of the state and national farm bureaus; a member and former director of the Manatee County Cattlemen's Association; and a member of the state and national cattlemen's associations.
Mr. McClure received the Martin Luther King Jr. Outstanding 2005 Citizenship Award from the Palmetto Youth Center for Community Service, and in 2006, he received the Distinguished Service Medal from the University of Florida's Department of Agriculture. Most recently, in September, he was recognized by the Florida Tomato Committee for his outstanding service to the Florida tomato industry.
He served as a board member and past chairman on the Manatee County Commission from 1962 to 1978, where he was instrumental in creating the Manatee County dam and water systems, county sewer system, ambulance service, and full-time park and recreation department.
He was also influential in the building of the Sarasota-Manatee Airport while serving as a member and chairman on the Airport Authority Board. In 2003, the airport authority dedicated the room in which the authority meets as the Dan McClure Room.
Mr. McClure also served as a board member and chairman of the board of trustees and finance committee of Trinity Methodist Church in Bradenton, FL, where he was actively involved in the building of the sanctuary and taught Sunday school for 22 years.
Mr. McClure was a member of the Manatee Memorial Hospital board; past director and division chairman of the United Way of Manatee County; past board member and chairman of the West Coast Inland Navigational District; member and past chairman of the Sarasota-Bradenton Authority; as well as a member of the Bradenton Kiwanis Club, Manatee County Heart Association and Manatee County Lung Association.
Additionally, Mr. McClure was a past member and chairman of the board of directors of NationsBank and a past board member of the First Union National Bank and Wachovia Bank.
Mr. McClure suffered disabling injuries in 1971 when a truck pinned him against a loading dock at a company tomato-packing plant. Over the course of many hospital stays and operations, he remained active in both his public service and professional roles, often participating in meetings by phone from his hospital bed.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Corrine Anderson McClure; four children: Sandra Lamme of Gainesville, FL, Scott McClure and Mary Anne Spencer, both of Bradenton, FL, and Daniel Carr (DC) McClure of Palmetto, FL; and seven grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made, if desired, in his memory to the Trinity United Methodist Church in Bradenton, FL, or to the endowment funds of Hospice-Bradenton, the Manatee County Salvation Army, Bradenton Christian School, United Way of Manatee County or Manatee Community Foundation.
A memorial service was held Sept. 26 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Bradenton.
