Alfred A. McKethan
Born(1908-10-14)October 14, 1908
Brooksville, Florida
DiedApril 1, 2002(2002-04-01) (aged 93)
Brooksville, Florida
NationalityAmerican
Alma materB.S., University of Florida, 1931
Known forChairman, Hernando State Bank
Chairman, State Road Board
SpouseRuth Arlene Crane (divorced)

Alfred Augustus McKethan (October 14, 1908 – April 1, 2002) was a prominent American banker, citrus grower, businessman and political appointee who was a native and resident of Florida.

Early life and education

McKethan was born in Brooksville, Florida, October 14, 1908. He was a fifth-generation Floridian. After graduating from Hernando High School in 1926, McKethan attended the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia for two years, and completed his education at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity (Epsilon Zeta Chapter). He graduated with honors from Florida with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1931.

Banking and business career

McKethan was the former president and chairman of Hernando State Bank, which became Sun Bank and Trust Company, and, in turn, SunTrust Bank.[1][2] He started work at Hernando State Bank after graduating from the University of Florida in 1931. His first job was that of an assistant cashier, and he later became head cashier, vice president, and then the bank's president in 1940.[3] At the age of 38, McKethan became the youngest president of the Florida Bankers Association. He served as president and chief executive officer of the Sun Bank and Trust Company until 1994, at which time he retired.

Together with his brother, John W. McKethan, he established the Brooksville Rock Company, which later became known as the Florida Mining and Materials Corporation. McKethan was also a citrus grower, serving as the director and then chairman of the Brooksville Citrus Growers Association for forty years, and as Director of the Florida Citrus Exchange for fifteen years. McKethan served as the president of Florida Citrus Mutual.

Political appointments

Florida Governor Fuller Warren appointed McKethan to be the chairman of the State Road Board; he served from 1949 to 1953.[4] McKethan was responsible, in part, for the construction of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge across Tampa Bay, as well as for the initial planning of the Florida Turnpike. He also served as the first chairman of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Philanthropy and retirement

In 1988, Alfred McKethan donated the equivalent of $800,000 to his alma mater, the University of Florida, for the construction of a new baseball stadium known as the Alfred A. McKethan Stadium at Perry Field.[5] Later that year, he was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as an "honorary letter winner.[6][7] McKethan Stadium was demolished in 2020, but the playing surface at its replacement was dedicated "Alfred A. McKethan Field" in his honor.[8]

McKethan wrote a history of Hernando County, Florida, entitled Hernando County: Our Story, in 1989.[9]

The Hernando County Park on Pine Island, Alfred McKethan Park, was named for him.[10]

McKethan died in 2002; he was 93 years old.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Jeffrey S. Solochek & Craig Basse, "Civic leader Alfred A. McKethan dies: The Brooksville native, philanthropist and Gator booster was a power in banking, road planning and citrus," St. Petersburg Times, April 2, 2002. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  2. ↑ Editorial, "A tip of the hat to one who served the state well," St. Petersburg Times, April 5, 2002. Retrieved July 27, 2009.
  3. ↑ University of Florida, Samuel Proctor Oral History Project, "Interview with Alfred A. McKethan (July 9, 1987)." Retrieved July 27, 2009.
  4. ↑ Florida Department of Transportation, Former Secretaries of the Florida Department of Transportation Archived 2013-03-24 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 27, 2009.
  5. ↑ GatorZone.com, Facilities, McKethan Stadium at Perry Field Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 28, 2009.
  6. ↑ F Club, Hall of Fame, Honorary Letter Winners. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Lindy Infante among seven Florida athletic honorees," The Gainesville Sun, p. 5C (April 6, 1988). Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  8. ↑ FloridaGators.com, "Alfred A. McKethan to Follow Gators to Florida Ballpark". Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  9. ↑ Alfred A. McKethan, Hernando County: Our Story, Brooksville, Florida (1989).
  10. ↑ Hernando County, Parks & Recreation, Alfred McKethan / Pine Island Park Archived 2010-04-15 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 15, 2009.

Bibliography

  • McKethan, Alfred A., Hernando County: Our Story, Brooksville, Florida (1989).
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