James Laurens Ferman Sr.

FERMAN, James Laurens, Sr., 88, of Tampa, died at his home on his 88th birthday, Monday, April 14, 2003, surrounded by family. His wife of 66 years, Mrs. Martha Ferman, Jim, Jr. and his wife Cecelia, other f amily and ministers from Hyde Park United Methodist Church were at his side lifting their voices up to heaven in hymns and prayer. Born in Tampa on April 14, 1915, James Laurens (Jim) Ferman, Sr. was a third generation Tampan. The Ferman family came to Tampa in 1882. W. Fred Ferman, Jim's father, formed the Tampa Cycle Co. in 1883-4. From these early beginnings in the 19th century Tampa, the Ferman Motor Car Co mpany was founded in 1895. Signed as an Oldsmobile sales agent in 1902, the Ferman Motor Car Company is the oldest continually operated family dealership in the United States. Mr. Ferman attended public scho ols in Tampa, graduated from Henry B. Plant High School, and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. After college, he entered the family automobile business and in 1942, the U.S. Na vy. He was a Naval Intelligence Officer, Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of a Subchaser and a PC in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Central Pacific theaters. After the war he was the first Commanding Of ficer of the Tampa Naval Organized Surface Reserve Unit. He separated from the Naval Reserve with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Mr. Ferman was actively involved with a wide range of local, state and nati onal business and community organizations throughout his life and career. In 1948 Tampa's Junior Chamber of Commerce named him "Tampa's Outstanding Young Man", and he received the Civitan Award of "Tampa's O utstanding Citizen for 1966." Mr. Ferman's six decades of community leadership include: past chair of Hillsborough County Port Authority, Tampa Safety Village Authority, Tampa Horizon Park Authority, Exchang e Club of Tampa, Boys Club of Tampa, Tampa Safety Council, and Board of Trustees, University of Tampa. He was a founding board member of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce's C ommittee of 100 in 1954, a Trustee Emeritus and former Chairman of the Board of the University of Tampa, and an Honorary Degree Recipient, Doctor of Humane Letters, in 1999 from the University of Tampa. The John H. Sykes College of Business, The University of Tampa, presented the 2001 Florida Family Business of the Year Award to the Ferman family. His social affiliations were numerous and included being a found ing member of Tampa's University Club, member of the Centre Club, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, Past Commodore of the Tampa Yacht and Country Club, and he served as King Gasparilla XLVII. Among other local business affiliations, he was a director of First Florida Bank, N. A. for 40 years. He was widely known and respected for his active involvement in the automobile industry. He was President of Florida Automo bile Dealers Association, recognized for 25 years as an Oldsmobile dealer and 50 years as a dealer by Chevrolet Motor Division and GMAC of General Motors. He received the Top Man agement Award in 1978 from Tampa Sales and Marketing Executives, Time Magazine's "Quality Dealer Award" in 1980, and was Past President of Tampa New Auto Dealers Association. They honored Mr. Ferman in 2001 with the TNADA "Lifetime Achievement" Award. He was active at Hyde Park United Methodist Church which elected him and his wife Martha as Honorary Members of the Charge Conference. He served as Chairman of th e Boy Scouts, Boys' Club, the Chamber of Commerce, and the United Way of Greater Tampa and its predecessors United Fund and Community Chest. He served United Way as Chairman of its Budget Committee, twice as Advance Gifts Chairman, as President, and Champaign Chairman. In 1989 the Gulf Ridge Council, Boy Scouts of America honored him with the designation of Outstanding American for the year. Mr. Ferman is survi ved by his wife, Martha Sale Ferman, his son, James L. Ferman, Jr., and wife Cecelia Davis; his two granddaughters and their husbands, Laura Ferman and Preston L. Farrior, Janice Ferman and Stephen B. Straske II, six great-grandchildren, Preston Farrior, Jr., Courtney Farrior, Wyatt Farrior, Elly Straske, Martha Davis Straske, and Mary Stephen Straske. Many special family members in clude: niece Mary Virginia Wilson, grand-nieces Martha Virginia Smith, great-grand niece Virginia Austin Smith, great-grand nephew Warren Smith, niece Mary Winifred Wilson Proudfoot, husband Robert Proudfoot , great-grand nephew Robert Proudfoot, Jr., great-grand niece Margaret Proudfoot, nephew James. L. Sale, Jr., wife Diane K. Sale, grand-nephew James Lee Sale III, wife Joyce Sale, great-grand nephew Coleman Sale, grand- nephew Joseph M. Sale, and numerous other cousins, family members and a great host of friends he knew, worked with and loved dearly. His passing is deeply mourned by his family and the entire Fe rman organization. Visitation for family and friends will be held Wednesday, April 16, from 6-8 p.m. at Blount & Curry Funeral Home, 605 South MacDill Avenue, Tampa. A memorial s ervice will be held at 11 a.m. this Thursday, April 17, at Hyde Park United Methodist Church, 500 West Platt Street, Tampa. Those who wish may make a gift in Mr. Ferman's memory to the Hyde Park United Metho dist Church Building Fund, 500 West Platt Street, Tampa, FL 33606, or to the charity of their choice.