Leland M. HAWES Jr.

HAWES, JR., Leland M., 83, of Tampa, died on May 18, 2013 at Memorial Hospital. Leland decided he wanted to be in the news-paper business as a boy in Thonotosassa, and worked in the profession until he was 75. The son of Leland M. Hawes Sr. and Virginia McMaster Hawes, he is survived by his sister, Virginia Hawes Knight; his nephews, Charles l. Knight III (Barbara) and Donald Hawes Knight; and his grand-niece, Fay Lilia Knight, all of Lithia. Leland lived in Lake Thonotosassa until he was 16, then in Tampa for the rest of his life. He attended Gorrie Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Junior High School, and Plant High School, where he was editor of the school yearbook, The Panther, in 1947. His first paper, a mimeographed weekly, was called "The Flint Lake Diver". Begun in 1940, when he was 11 years old, "The Diver" circulated to about 150 subscribers in the Thonotosassa area, and had as its motto 'The Diver Comes Up With the News." In 1942, Leland and five other boy editors joined the American Amateur Press Association, a national hobby group of writers and printers. His journal, "The Gator Growl," is still circulated in the AAPA, passing its 168th number. He has served in several official capacities in AAPA and hosted six conventions here. In his senior year of high school, Leland began working at "The Tampa Daily Times," an afternoon daily, then became The Times' campus correspondent at the University of Florida until graduating in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. Leland then joined the Times' staff as a police reporter. In 1952, he was hired by "The Tampa Morning Tribune," and remained on "The Tribune" staff for 52 years in various newsroom positions, covering state politics, Klan rallies, and gambling raids. In later years Leland served as Sunday editor, assistant editor of the editorial page and Sunday history columnist He enjoyed writing area history, and retired after 22 years in that capacity. The Tampa Bay History Center honored him with a special luncheon, and the University of South Florida library gave him an honorary doctoral degree in humanities. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Sat. May 25th at the First Presbyterian Church, 412 E. Zack St., Tampa, FL. 33602. In lieu of flowers, those who so desire may make memorial contributions to the First Presbyterian Church or the Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Old Water Street, Tampa, FL. 33602. Blount & Curry, MacDill Avenue Chapel is in charge of arrangements.