Peter S. Harllee, a native of Palmetto, was instrumental in development of improved tomato varieties by allocating land for use by the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. He has been a leader in improving marketing efforts through the Florida Tomato Committee, Florida Tomato Exchange and the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, having served as president or chairman of all three organizations. He also has been chairman of the Manatee County ASC Committee and is a member of the Manatee County Farm Bureau and the Florida Cattlemen’s Association. In 1935, he organized Harllee Farms with his father J.P. Harllee Sr. and his brother J.P. Harllee Jr. In 1969, he formed Harllee-Gargiulo Inc. and has been president and chief executive officer of the tomato-growing and seed development business to the present. The company now has agriculture interests in Manatee, Collier and Gadsden Counties.
Charles P. Lykes served as president of Lykes Brothers, Inc. from 1957-83 when he became chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the cattle, citrus, meatpacking and shipping companies. He began his career with the family firm upon graduation from Washington & Lee University in 1939 with a degree in commerce. Lykes has been chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Lykes Energy, Inc.; chairman of Lykes Insurance Inc.; chairman of M&M Supply Co. of Florida, Inc.; and vice chairman of the board of First Florida Banks, Inc.; and the Florida Progress Corporation. During his early years, he worked on the Lykes Florida Ranches with his uncle Thompson Mayo Lykes. During World War II, he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Donald Lee Wakeman has been a lasting influence in the livestock industries of Florida and the nation. In 1953, he became beef manager at the University of Florida while he pursued his master’s degree in beef cattle nutrition. He rose through the ranks as an instructor in 1954 to full professor in 1978. He has provided leadership in numerous extracurricular activities furthering the training of young people. He coached the intercollegiate livestock team at UF for 25 years and advised the Block & Bridal Club.Wakeman has written extensively for both scientific and popular journals and collaborated on numerous articles on livestock. He has been instrumental in funding student scholarships, including one in his name awarded for the first time in 1988. He has judged almost 400 local, national and international livestock shows, has served as delegate-at-large to the Florida Horse Council and advisor to the livestock committee at the Florida State Fair.
