George Lackman

TAMPA - George Lackman's quirkier accomplishments include supervising construction of the Jose Gasparilla pirate ship and becoming its captain, building the submarines and stern-wheeler for Walt Disney World and inventing a weed-resistant boat propeller that bass anglers swear by. Along the way, the Tampa native, who began work life as a mechanic's assistant in a local shipyard, founded a bank, served as president of a handful of companies and helped save Tampa General Hospital. He died Saturday at age 77. "He was very bright, but above that, he had more common sense than just about anybody I ever met," said George Howell, chairman of the Tampa Bay History Center, who came to know Lackman when he served on the board. Lackman died from lung disease related to asbestos exposure as a young shipyard worker, said his son, Peter, a local accountant. Born in Palmetto Beach, south of Ybor City, Lackman spent most of his career at Tampa Ship Repair and Dry Dock, working his way up to vice president. During the 1960s, he contracted with Roy Disney to build the submarines and stern-wheeler and refurbish the steam locomotives for Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Orlando, which opened in 1971. He also supervised construction of the Jose Gasparilla, a barge that Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla uses during the annual pirate invasion and festival. He steered the vessel as the Krewe's "sailing master" for 35 years. He also worked with famous bass pro Doug Hannon, inventing an electric boat propeller that prevented entanglement in weeds. He boasted the proceeds from the invention put his kids through college. Lackman was founding chairman and president of Citrus Park Bank, which was sold to Florida National Bank in 1985. He later started the first Tampa area private banking program for First Union Bank, retiring as vice president of corporate development. He was president of Nutri-Sol Chemical Co., Marine Insulation Co., Corban Industries and Acetogen Gas Co. of Florida. He started the Genesis Clinic to provide prenatal care to the poor, helping reduce infant mortality in the Tampa Bay area. And he served two terms as chairman of the Hillsborough County Hospital Board. "When Tampa General first started having problems, he was the guiding force that brought everybody else together and got them out of trouble," Howell said. Peter Lackman said his father's ability to get to the root of problems, breaking them down to their most basic elements, contributed greatly to his success. "That's where he got everyone on his side."