Robert C. "Bob" Hector

HECTOR, ROBERT C. "BOB", Friends and family knew Robert Clarence "Bob" Hector as an extremely kind and generous man a fabulous dancer, a consummate gentleman, who loved gardening and golf, and particularly loved the Miami community. He was born April 16, 1918 in Ft. Lauderdale, delivered by a vet as the doctor was out hunting. He died two days after his 86th birthday on April 18, surrounded by his family. Bob's family moved to Florida in 1912 when his father and uncle started a farm supply business. The company grew to five branches in southeast Florida consisting of a fertilizer and dairy feed mixing plant (Hector Supply Co.) and a turf and garden supply business (Hector Turf and Garden) that was the South Florida and Caribbean distributor for Toro. For 70 years the family owned the business, and when it was sold in 1982, Bob was Chairman of the Board. Bob followed his brother Louis to Phillips Academy, Andover, and graduated Cum Laude in Economics from Princeton University where he was an avid polo player. He served in the U.S. Army in WWII, and in the Army Reserve from which he retired as a Lt. Colonel. Bob married life-long friend Alice Guyton in 1942, merging two pioneer Miami families. Bob and Alice loved to travel and were always headed to some exotic locale, especially when he was a member of the Young Presidents Organization and later the Chief Executives Organization. For many years, he played competitive, on-going gin-rummy, backgammon, and cribbage with his wife and children. Sporting a campaign slogan "Be an Elector for Hector," Bob served seven terms in the Florida House of Representatives, chairing the Dade Delegation in 1977 before retiring in 1980. He was most proud that he was responsible for Florida's Administrative Procedure Act and the bill he introduced which created the sports fisherman's crawfish mini-season. His long list of civic activities include: elected a member of the Orange Bowl Committee in 1950, later serving as its president in 1966. He received the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award, was voted one of five outstanding young men in Florida in 1953 and served on the boards of the Rotary, Easter Seals Society, Goodwill Industries, the American Red Cross of Miami, and the Historical Association of Southern Florida. In 1978 Bob received a Junior League of Miami special award for his work in helping create the Dade County Arts Council. He was a member of the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club, Riviera Country Club, and a parishioner of the Chapel of the Venerable Bede. He was a former member of the Bath Club and Benedicts. Bob was pre-deceased by his ?MD NM?sister Emily Hector Maxted. He is survived by his brother Louis J. Hector (Nancy B.), and his children Bryan H. Commander (Jon), Alice G. Hector, Robert C. Hector, Jr. (Nancy T.), Emily H. Clemente (Ralph), 12 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. The memorial service will be at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral on Monday, April 26 at 3:00 p.m. He was a wonderful husband, father, granddad and friend, and will be missed by many. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Red Cross of Miami, the Easter Seals Society, or Chapel of the Venerable Bede will be appreciated. To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.herald.com/obituaries.