The three brothers who founded the renowned A. Duda & Sons produce operation, John (1904), Andrew, Jr. (1906), and Ferdinand (1909), have been recognized for a sound company that has brought credit to Florida’s agricultural community. Starting with a 10-acre family farm established by their father at Slavia in 1912, the sons formed the partnership of A. Duda & Sons in 1926. The brothers expanded the operation to now include vegetables, sugar cane, citrus, sod, ornamental foliage and cattle. John has been responsible for development and maintenance of prototype farming and packinghouse machinery. Although many of his machines and ideas are patented, Florida muck farmers and other farmers throughout the United States have freely copied them. Andrew, as the outside person who served the fledging fruit and vegetable operation as it began to prosper in the 1930s and '40s, has been a strong supporter of quality standards and professional marketing of Florida’s agricultural products. Ferdinand headed up the farming arm of the company. He has been an industry leader in cooperative work in new plant varieties, farming techniques and improved pay and working conditions for Florida farm workers.
In his letter of nomination, former Governor LeRoy Collins cited Clinton Huxley Coulter, Sr.’s character, performance, duty and extraordinary service to Florida, especially in directing progress for Florida’s timber resources. Coulter is credited with a key role in the creation of the Withlacoochee and Blackwater River State Forests. He worked for creation of a slash pine nursery, hired foresters on a local level to help small landowners and was instrumental in the program that has seen the growth of two billion seedlings. His leadership over the years was important in helping Florida’s forestry income increase from $140 million in 1928 to $1.4 billion in 1969 when he retired as State Forester.
Doyle E. Conner has served the citizens of Florida as an elected official for nearly four decades. He is a state legislator and, since 1961, the Commissioner of Agriculture. Conner distinguished himself on a national level by serving as past president of both the Southern and National Associations of State Departments of Agriculture and as the past president and co-founder of the Southern United States Trade Association. He has played leadership roles in cooperative programs with the USDA, engineered land and water management policies, championed private property rights, inaugurated pest management programs and acted to reduce reliance on potentially harmful chemicals. Conner was the first person outside his Foreign Agricultural Service to receive the highly prized USDA Certificate of Merit. He received the Fourth World Meat Congress’ Silver Bucranium Award for promoting international trade.
