John M. Fox

FOX, JOHN M., 90, of Winter Park, died Thursday, January 9, 2003. Born in Esher, England on December 26, 1912, Mr. Fox came to the United States in 1914, settling with his parents in Atlantic City, NJ. Mr. Fox, best known as Jack, was a founder and the President of Minute Maid Corporation from 1945 to 1960. Thereafter, he became President and Board Chairman of The United Fruit Company (Chiquita Brand), Boston, 1960-1970, and then President and Chairman of H. P. Hood, Inc., Boston, 1970 - 1978, from which he retired. During his career and in his retirement, Mr. Fox served as a director of International Business Machines, Armonk, NY; The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, SCA Services, NJ; Eastern Gas and Fuel, Boston; The Harvey Group, Inc., Boston; Cissel Manufacturing Co., Louisville, KY; Pantry Pride Inc., Fort Lauderdale, FL; International Signals and Controls, Inc., Lancaster, PA and London; Florida National Investors, Orlando; Saxon Industries, NY, NY and Ferrant International, London. He also served as a Trustee of Tabor Academy, Marion, MA; Rollins College, Winter Park, FL and Colgate University, Hamilton, NY from which he graduated in 1934. In the course of his life, Mr. Fox was honored by the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1983 for "outstanding leadership, service and contributions to Florida agriculture" and by The Boy Scouts of America as a Distinguished Citizen in 1984. In 1994, the American Frozen Food Institute and the National Frozen and Refrigerated Food Institute inducted him into the Frozen Food Hall of Fame. He "was honored for his development of frozen concentrated orange juice, and his creation of the Minute Maid Company." His wife, Floy, of Winter Park; sister, Nancy Burgess of Madison, CT; daughter, Susan Castellini of Cincinnati, OH and sons, Stephen of Peterborough, NH and Byron of Mill Valley, CA survive him along with 20 grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren. Dean Patrick Powers at Knowles Chapel, Rollins College will conduct a memorial service on Monday, January 13 at 12:00 o'clock noon. In lieu flowers, contributions may be made to the donor's favorite charity.