Doyle Carlton Jr.

CARLTON, Doyle Elam, Jr., 80, of Wauchula, died Saturday, May 10, 2003, at home. Born in Tampa on July 4, 1922, the sixth generation Floridian living in Tallahassee 1929-1933 while his father served as gover nor. He graduated in 1940 from Plant High School in Tampa where he served as president of the student body. He attended the University of Florida 1940-1943 and was captain of the basketball team. On Nov. 27, 1943 he married Mildred Woodbery of Tampa, and after he served in the U.S. Air Force for two years, they moved to Wauchula. He was a Florida State Senator for 10 years, and in 1953 received the Outstanding Freshman Senator Award and was chosen by the St. Petersburg Times as Outstanding Senator in 1959. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Citrus Committee and the Livestock Committee, during which times his efforts led to the passage of the bill which provided funds for screwworm eradication. An active member of the First Baptist Church of Wauchula since 1948, he was a life deac on and taught Sunday school for many years. He served on the Southern Baptist Convention's Brotherhood Commission, 1956-1963, chairman, 1959; Foreign Mission Board, 1964-1969; Executive Committee, 1970-1978; Peace Committee, 1985-1987; and was Vice President of the Florida Baptist Convention, 1960. He was a member of the Baptist World Alliance, 1970-1975. He served as trustee of the Baptist College of Florida, 1952-1953, and 1960-1966, and due to his support and leadership, a campus building in which the Ida J. McMillan Library is housed is named the Doyle E. Carlton Jr. Hall. After serving on Stetson University's Board of Trustees for many years, he later served as Trustee Emeritus. In 1984 he received the university's prestigious Doyle E. Carlton award, named in honor of his father for outstanding community service and contributions to higher education. Both of his parents were alumni of Stetson, and the Carlton student Union Building on the DeLand campus bears his father's name. In 1987 t he family established the Nell Carlton Chair of English in memory of his mother. In 1985 the Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg presented Mr. Carlton an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. He wa s chosen by the Florida Jaycees as one of five Outstanding Young Men in Florida in 1955, and at the time of his death was a member of the national, state and county Cattlemen's Associations. Beginning in 197 6, he served as a member of the Florida State Fair Authority and served as chairman for a 12-year period. He and his wife were active in the development of Cracker Country at the Florida State Fair, which no w bears their names. The couple received the 1984 President's Award from the Florida Association Extension Home Economic Agents for their support for home and family life. They were also recipients of the 19 84 award presented by the Hardee County Unit of the American Cancer Society and in 1996 the Children's Home Society presented the Carltons the Child Advocate of the Year Award. M r. Carlton received the 1985 Great American Award from Explorer Division, Gulf Ridge Boy Scouts of America, and in 1987 the D.B. McKay Award Extraordinaire from the Tampa Historical Society. In 1988 he recei ved the White Hat Award from the Agri-Business Institute of Florida, and in 1991 was inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Mildred Woodbery Ca rlton, on Jan. 24, 2003; his father, Gov. Doyle E. Carlton Sr., in 1972; his mother, Nell Carlton, in 1982; and one sister, Mary Carlton Ott, in 1985. Survivors are one son, Doyle E. Carlton II and wife Debb ie Hansel Carlton of Wauchula; two daughters, Susan Carlton Smith and husband Donald E. "Duck" Smith and Jane Carlton Durando and husband David M. "Lefty" Durando, all of Wauchula; six grandchildren, 10 grea t-grandchildren; and one sister, Martha Carlton Ward of Tampa. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, May 14, 2003 at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Wauchula, with vi sitation to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to a favorite charity. ROBARTS FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, INC. WAUCHULA