Daniel Peyton McClure

Daniel Peyton McClure A celebration of life, in spite of adversity, by the grace and mercy of God. Daniel Peyton McClure was at home when he went peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, September 23, 2006. He was a life time resident of Manatee County and was born at home in Palmetto, Florida, on February 8, 1926. He was the son of Versenoia Thomas McClure and John Niel McClure Sr., a graduate of Palmetto High School and the University of Florida with a degree in Finance and Economics, and served in the U.S. Navy. To the glory and honor of God, his family shares the following memories of service. While serving as a Board member for 16 years and Chairman, intermittently, on the Manatee County Commission he was instrumental in creating the Manatee County Dam and Water Systems, County Sewer System, Ambulance Service, full time Park and Recreation Department including the first County Golf Course, County Library, the first County Bus System and Manatee County's Deep Water Port. He was also instrumental in the building of the new Sarasota-Manatee Airport while serving as a member and Chairman on the Airport Authority Board for a sum total of over 24 years. On January 21, 2003, the Airport Authority dedicated the meeting room in which the Authority met to carry the name of 'Dan McClure' While serving as a Board Member and Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Finance Committee of Trinity Methodist Church he was instrumental in the building of the Sanctuary and also taught Sunday School there for 22 years. BUSINESS: McClure is President and Chief Operating Officer of West Coast Tomato, Inc., and McClure farms; Past President and Director of the Florida Tomato Exchange and Chairman of the Florida Tomato Committee; Board Member of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association; Appointed to the Blue-Ribbon Agricultural Task Force by former Governor Robert Graham; Member and former Director and officer of the Manatee County Farm Bureau; Member of the State and National Farm Bureau; member and former Director of the Manatee County Cattlemen's Association; Member of the State and National Cattlemen's Association. AWARDS: McClure was the first recipient of the Jr. Chamber of Commerce 'Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year' award; Recipient of Agriculture's Distinguished Service Award; Distinguished Citizen of Manatee County Award from the Board of Governors of Goodwill Industries; Martin Luther King, Jr. 'Outstanding 2005 Citizenship Award' from the Palmetto Youth Center for Community Service; In May 2006, received the 'Distinguished Service Medal' from the University of Florida's Department of Agriculture, And most recently in September 2006, was recognized by the Florida Tomato Committee for his outstanding service to the Florida Tomato Industry. CIVIC: McClure, as did his parents, loved the Lord and had a deep sense of civic and community responsibility. He served on the Manatee County Commission from 1962-1978, including serving as its Chairman, and additionally as a Board member and Chairman numerous times of the Deep Water Port Authority. In 1971 an accident at McClure's tomato packing plant left him with disabling leg injuries. He endured many hospital stays and operations yet refused to resign from the commission, often joining meetings by phone from his hospital bed. McClure was a Board Member of the Manatee Memorial Hospital for 16 years while it was a public hospital and for many years subsequently after it was held privately; Past Director and Division Chairman of the United Way of Manatee County (serving on the Board for a sum total of 17 years as well as a Founding Trustee of the United Way Foundation and Chairman of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society); recently he was appointed as an 'Honorary Member' of the Board of Directors of the United Way for his many years of dedicated service. He is a past Board member and Chairman of the West Coast Inland Navigational District; Appointed to the Blue-Ribbon Task Force Committee studying problems of state growth by former Governor Bob Martinez; Member and past Chairman of the Sarasota-Bradenton Authority; Member of the Bradenton Kiwanis Club, Manatee County Heart Association and Manatee County Lung Association. McClure served as a Board Member of the Red Cross, the Manatee County YMCA, the Manatee County Agricultural Museum and the Salvation Army as well as Chairing its Capital Fund Drive. He was a former Chairman of the Manatee County Needs Assessment Task Force and of the Drug Free Communities Task Force; A former member and officer of the Manatee County Fair Board; Member of the Palmetto and Manatee County Historical Societies; former Board Member of the South Florida Museum, Bishop Planetarium, County Mental Health Board, Community Health Advisory Committee and the Bi-County Air Service Task Force Committee and a past Board member of the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce and the Agriculture Stabilization Conservation Service. McClure was a Board member and Chairman of the Manatee Community Foundation and just recently in recognition of his service and leadership was elected its 'Chairman Emeritus'. BANKING: McClure was a past member and Chairman of the Board of Directors of NationsBank; past board member of First Union National Bank and Wachovia Bank. FAMILY: McClure's wife of 58 years is Corrine Anderson McClure; his 4 children are Sandra Lamme of Gainesville, Dr. Scott McClure and Mary Anne Spencer both of Bradenton and Daniel Carr 'DC' McClure of Palmetto; and he has seven beloved grandchildren. MEMORIAL GIFTS: In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made, if desired, in his memory to the Trinity United Methodist Church or to the Endowment Funds of Hospice-Bradenton, the Manatee County Salvation Army, Bradenton Christian School, United Way of Manatee County or Manatee Community Foundation. The family is deeply grateful for all the prayers and other expressions of concern from so many. PALLBEARERS: Ken Barnebey, Bill Blankenship, Ed Dick, Dick Dungan, Duane Duryea, Don Hall, Dozier Hilliard, Raymond Lee, Jack Rechcigal and Don Varnadore. VISITATION: Funeral arrangements have been made with Griffith-Cline Funeral Home, Bradenton. The Funeral Service and visitation afterwards with refreshments will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, Bradenton, on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 at 3:00p.m. The Reverends Don Hanna and W.A. 'Bud' Gillet will be officiating. The family is grateful to God for their husband, father and grandfather's long and full life, and for God's wonderful assurance of everlasting life. His family's loss is his homecoming His life's verse: 'Haven't I commanded you: Be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.' Joshua 1:9.