Henry William Land

LAND, HENRY WILLIAM, businessman, soldier, farmer, politician, and longtime Orange County resident, passed away Sunday, October 13, 2002. He will be remembered for his service to Orange County, the State of Florida, and his country. The oldest son of Josephine and Bennett Land Sr., Henry was born on July 3, 1913 in Plant City, Florida. In the early 1920's the Land family moved to Apopka, where Henry graduated from the University of Florida, and at the age of 21, assumed the presidency of the family business, Consumers Lumber and Veneer Company in Apopka. In August 1935, he married Abby Josephine Simpson of Mount Dora and moved to their present home in Tangerine. At the age of 26, in 1940, Henry was elected as the youngest ever Orange County Commissioner, a position that he resigned from 19 months later to enter military service shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. As part of General Patton's Third Army, Henry fought with the 559th Field Artillery Battalion in the Battle of the Bulge and the battles in the Ardennes, Normandy, and Central Europe. He was awarded the Bronze Star for valor. A lifelong Democrat, he served for 12 years in the Florida House of Representatives and was Chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee. He was selected by the Florida Press as one of the 'Ten Outstanding House Members' in 1955, 1957, 1963, and 1967. Over the years, Henry has been associated with many community leadership roles, including 25 years as Director of Plymouth Citrus Growers Association, Director of the State Bank of Apopka and the Bank of Central Florida, President of the Central Florida Fair, and founder of the Zellwood Sweet Corn Festival. Henry is survived by his devoted wife, Abby Jo; daughters Sara Jo Sullivan and Catherine Romano; sons Henry II, David, Albion, and Thomas; 17 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren; his sister Mary Miller and his brother John. Visitation on Thursday 5-7PM at the Loomis Family Chapel. Funeral Services will be Friday 11AM at The Anglican Church of the Incarnation, 1505 Edgewater Drive, Orlando. Graveside services to be held 2PM at Pine Forest Cemetery in Mt. Dora, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Anglican Cathedral of the Incarnation, 1515 Edgewater Dr., Orlando, Florida 32804 or the Museum of the Apopkains, 116-B East 5th St., Apopka Florida. 32703. Services entrusted to Loomis Family Funeral Home, Apopka, FL. 407-880-1007. www.loomisfuneralhome.com.