Calvin Houghland

HOUGHLAND, Calvin Age 93, died peacefully at his Bright Hour Farm home in Brentwood, TN on October 27, 2009 surrounded by his family and loved ones. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Pollard Houghland; children, Sara Jo (Don) Gill, John Mason (Marilyn Guyton) Houghland II, Calvin (Blythe Gillig) Houghland, Jr. and Adora (Regg) Swanson; seven grandchildren, Rene Houghland Ward, John Mason Houghland III, Calvin Hutton Houghland, Adora Houghland, Lacey Farrell Houghland, Sara Jo Houghland, Eve Muntz Adcock and two great-grandchildren, John Mason Houghland IV and Chloe Helene Ward. His parents, John Mason Houghland and Sara Roark Houghland; his sister, Nancy Houghland Lampton and Josephine Holtzclaw Houghland; his wife of 63 years and the mother of his children, preceded him in death. Born in Emporia, KS on September 15, 1916, Mr. Houghland, a member of First Presbyterian Church of Nashville, attended Webb School, Battle Ground Academy, and Vanderbilt, Virginia and Harvard Universities. He served his country as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II. In his youth, Calvin earned his Eagle Scout ranking and later served as Boy Scout Master of Troop 48, a troop for blind children. Known for his loving, kind and generous spirit, he was the grantor and trustee of the Houghland foundation, for the benefit for many local and national charities. Following in his father's footsteps, Calvin founded and operated Direct Oil and Fleet Transport. He was a director of Gasoline Marketers of America, American Petroleum Institute, Florida Petroleum Marketers and the Tennessee Oil Men's Association. An avid sportsman, fisherman, world traveler and philanthropist, Mr. Houghland was a founder of the Volunteer State Horsemen's Foundation, the governing body of the Iroquois Steeplechase, which he won as a rider in 1943 and five times as an owner. His final victory was winning this year's Iroquois Steeplechase. He was named the 2005 recipient of the prestigious National Steeplechase Association's Chairman's Award, recognizing him as the person who had made the most significant contribution to amateur steeplechase racing in the United States. He was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Iroquois Steeplechase Hall of Fame in 2008. Calvin served as chairman, director and board member of many corporations, including the United Tennessee Bankshares Corporation and Nashville City Bank. He was a member of Belle Meade, Richland and Cumberland County Clubs, and was Commodore and co-founder of both Sailfish Point Yacht Club in Stuart, FL and Walker's Cay Yacht Club. He was a member of the Chevaliers du Tastevin and Chaine des Rotisseurs and the recipient of their 2006 Medaille Presidentielle award. The 1995 Florida Department of Agriculture's Environmental Leadership award was given to Mr. Houghland and in 1998, he received the Beefmaster Breeders Universal Ranch Environmental Conservation award. Other business endeavors, included Key Investments, Inc., Bright Hour Farms in Tennessee, Bright Hour Ranch in Arcadia, FL and his restaurant, Le Dome of the Four Seasons in Fort Lauderdale, FL, which was awarded nine Mobile Five-Star Awards. The family will receive friends on Friday, October 30, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., in the Cheek House of First Presbyterian Church, Nashville, located at 4815 Franklin Rd. Dr. Todd B. Jones will officiate the services at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary, with a private Interment at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Active Pallbearers are Rowdy Bateman, Glen Warwick, Jamie Sochovka, Maurice Thomason, Donald P. Gill and Regg E. Swanson. Honorary Pallbearers are Davis Carr, Joe Russell, George Ragsdale, Frank Crowell, Paul Kleinfeld, Dinwiddie Lampton III, Mason Lampton, Henry Hooker, W.G. Welles IV, Phillip Turner, Dale B. Purcell, Dr. Karl VanDevender and Dr. Craig Ferrell. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the United Way, 250 Venture Cir., Nashville, TN 37228; or Boy Scout Troop #1, c/o BUMC, 309 Franklin Rd., Brentwood, TN 37027. AUSTIN FUNERAL AUSTIN FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, (615) 377-0775.