George Leonhard Caldwell

CALDWELL, GEORGE LEONHARD On March 3rd, 2014 George passed away peacefully in his home. George Leonhard Caldwell was born on February 3, 1933, to Hester Petersen Caldwell and William Webster Caldwell. His family lived in Jackson Heights on Long Island, New York and George attended public school through the sixth grade and then Trinity School in New York City. In 1946, his father moved his company, Caldwell-Scott Construction Company, and his family to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. That year George went to St. Paul's School in Concord, N.H. from which he graduated in 1951 and then went to Princeton University from which he graduated in 1955 with an A.B degree. He married Jean Bridges on August 27, 1955. That same year he served in US Navy. Upon leaving the service in 1957, he joined his father's firm and in 1965 his father made him President of the company, which he ran until his retirement in 1996. He served on Boards of American National Bank, Ft. Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, Gulfstream Land Development, Bonnet House, and the Stranahan House. George is a past Commodore of the Lauderdale Yacht Club. He sat on Ft. Lauderdale's Planning and Zoning Board and Board of Adjustment. In 1967, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives and was elected Chairman of the Broward Delegation. In 1972, he chose not to run for reelection and to devote his time to his construction company and together with his partner Dave McKnight changed the name to Caldwell-McKnight Construction Company. Over the fifty years the company constructed many prominent structures including Burdines in Fort Lauderdale, which is now the Broward County Government Center, the First Baptist Church, First Methodist Church, Second Presbyterian Church, many Florida National Banks all over Florida, Calder Race Course, Parker Playhouse, the 15th Street Fisheries, Embassy Suites, Pine Crest School, International Swimming Hall of Fame, and many others. In 1994, and 1996 he was Chairman of Congressman Clay Shaw's reelection campaign. In May of 1997 Clay asked him to become his District Director. In January of 2002 his wife of 46 years, Jean died and shortly after that he resigned as District Director and the boards he sat on and retired full time. He is survived by his three children; Elizabeth C. Reece (John), Dr. George L Caldwell, Jr.(Susan), and Alexandra C Sar(Robert) and nine grand-children, Catherine Reece Lynch, Jack Reece, Bill Reece, George L. Caldwell III (Hardy), Christian A. Caldwell, Jesse Eliza Caldwell, Alexander Webster Caldwell, Rob Sar and Caroline Sar. Also, he recently celebrated the birth of his great grandchild, Mary Bridges Lynch. As well, he is survived by his brother William Webster Caldwell, Jr., his sister Hester Caldwell Brinster, and his longtime friend Marcy Gumbel. Services will be held at Church-by-the-Sea at 11:30 AM on Saturday, March 8, 2014. The address is 2700 Mayan Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33316. The reception to follow is planned at the Lauderdale Yacht Club. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Church-by-the-Sea or the Salvation Army.