Bernard A. Egan, the youngest of nine children and the son of an Irish emigre, was born on June 7, 1914, in Elizabeth, NJ.A product of the Great Depression who majored in pre-law at New York's Fordham University, Egan devoted his successful 64-year career to the expansion of export markets for fresh Florida citrus and pioneered the development of new markets in Europe and the Far East. Egan's roots in produce sales come from his father who was the president of a New York produce sales and distribution company called Egan, Fickett & Co., and a Florida fresh citrus packing company. After his father died in 1937, Egan left his job with the Refrigerated Steamship Line, a subsidiary of the United Fruit Co., and joined his brothers in the family business. Business trips to Florida led to the decision in 1968 to move the company to Vero Beach to be closer to the supply of fresh citrus and subsequently resulted in the acquisition of more than 6,000 acres of citrus groves along Florida's east coast. Since 1968, Egan concentrated his efforts on building the family-owned company's reputation as a premier supplier of the highest quality fresh Indian River citrus. Egan is CEO of Bernard Egan & Co., an agribusiness corporation with 12 divisions that is now headquarters in Fort Pierce.r East. As a pioneer in fresh citrus exports, Egan broke new ground. His efforts have been recognized locally and nationally. In 1979 he received the prestigious President "E" award for export excellence. In 1988, Bernard Egan & Co. was a "Special Honoree" in the Florida Department of Commerce's Industry Appreciation Program. The Florida Citrus Packers Association gave him its John T. Leslie Award of Excellence in Marketing in 1990. Shortly thereafter, he received the President's "E Star" Award for excellence in Exporting given for outstanding contributions to the increase of U.S trade abroad. In addition to his numerous corporate enterprises, Egan wears hats as a citrus grower with more than 10,000 acres and as a partner in Fellsmere Farms, a citrus and cattle agribusiness. Egan was appointed by the Governor as a member of the Florida Citrus Commission from 1987 to 1990, he has served on the board of directors for the Indian River Citrus League since 1976, and was chairman of the IRCL Board from 1987 to 1989, and its president from 1989 to 1991. he has been involved in many produce industry organizations, including the Produce Marketing Association and the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association. Active in his community, Egan is a sustaining sponsor of the United Way in St. Lucie and in Indian River counties and is a founding co-chair if the Samaritan Center, a shelter for the homeless in Vero Beach. He and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Vero Beach. They have 10 children.
Carl B. Loop, a Jacksonville nurseryman, grew up around his uncle's small ornamental nursery in the 1930's. It was an experience that sparked his interest in agriculture and led to soft-spoken diplomat on a decade - long journey to become Florida's agricultural ambassador as president of Florida Farms Bureau. Born on March 10, 1928, in Jacksonville, Loop enjoyed spending time at his uncle's nursery. His interest in the vocation helped him decide to pursue a horticultural degree when he enrolled at the University of Florida in 1946. His love to his country convinced him to join the Florida National Guard that same year. He earned his bachelor's degree in three years at UF, and his second lieutenant's bars in nine years with the National Guard. He started Loop's Nursery and Greenhouse with a borrowed truck and a $1,500 loan after he graduated from college in 1949. His nursery, which grows flowering potted plants and tropical foliage, is now one of the largest wholesale nurseries in the Southeast. It spans nearly 50 acres in two locations in Duval and St. Johns counties, and to florists and garden centers around the Southeast. But it is Loop's service to Farm Bureau and its members for which he is most widely known. He began his affiliation with the organization the way all Farm Bureaus leaders do: as 1982, and president in 1983. Members have re-elected him to eight, two-year terms since. Florida Farm Bureau faced difficult financial times when Loop took over in the early1980's. With the insurance side of the Farm Bureau's business struggling, Loop had the tough task of strengthening its bottom line and reassuring its membership base. He handled the situation deftly, fostering an atmosphere of cooperation among commodity groups around the state. He is credited with more than doubling Florida Farm Bureau's membership, which now exceeds 143,000, and re-establishing it as the pre-eminent general agriculture organization in Florida and in the United States. American Farm Bureau elected him to its board of directors in 1986, a position he still holds. He became vice president in 1995, but stepped down last year. He continues to serve as president of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co. and Florida Farm Bureau Insurance Group. Global fee trade talks have taken center stage during Loop's tenure at Florida Farm Bureau. Presidents Ronald Regan, George Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush each appointed him to advisory panels with the U.S Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative's office. He currently serves as a member of the search committees that selected three vice presidents of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Loop also helped found the Florida Nurserymen and Growers Association and the Florida Foliage Association, which have since merged. Loop received the university of Florida's Award of Distinction in 1999, Progressive Farmer's Florida Farmer of the Year in 1999, and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' External Distinguished Service Award in 1990. He is past president of the Jacksonville Baptist Home for Children and the past deacon of the First Baptist Church in Jacksonville. He and his wife, Ruth, live in Jacksonville where they enjoy three children and five grandchildren.
J.R "Rip" Graves came from a family who owned a North Florida sawmill and limber company, the beginning of a lifelong career that would involved him in all aspects of growing, packing, processing and marketing citrus and place him in a leadership positions for Florida Citrus Canners. Born March 22, 1907, in DeFuniak Springs, Graves quickly became familiar with the three sawmills owned y his gather and uncle in North Florida. When the family bought 32,000 acres in 1919 in what was then Brevard County, but is now Indian River County, Graves watched as they branched into vegetable and eventually citrus farming. After graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in accounting and economics in 1929, went to work for Graves Brothers Co. as a bookkeeper. The Great Depression hit shortly thereafter, forcing him to add distributor for Sinclair Oil Co. to his responsibilities to help make ends meet. When World War II curbed the oil business, Graves worked at the U.S naval Air Base in Vero Beach and volunteered for the Coast Guard Auxiliary.He returned full time to Graves Brothers Co. in 1946 after buying out the interests of the Walter Graves family. Graves' involvement in the citrus industry stemmed Graves moved on to the Florida Citrus Mutual, serving as a director during the 1960's and taking over as president in 1976. IN addition, he served as director and eventually chairman of Farm Credit Banks of Columbia during the 1960s and early 1970s. He also served on the boards of directors of Florida Citrus Packers and Florida Citrus Canners, now called Florida Citrus Processors. In his spare time, Graves helped organize Citrus Ventral in 1963, and served as its president and chairman from 1964 to 1985. Graves also had a strong interest in research as a way to better the citrus industry and supported endowments and scholarships at the University of Florida's Institute of Good and Agricultural Sciences and Florida Southern College. His interest in all aspects of the citrus industry made him an authoritative source for state and federal lawmakers. Several Florida agricultural commissioners and U.S agriculture secretaries recognized Graves for his contribution over the years. He received the Florida citrus industry's highest honor in 1972 when he was inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. Graves and his wife, Addie, lived in Vero Beach and enjoyed their two children and five grandchildren until she passed away January 8, 1993, and he passed away May 15, 1999.
George F. Sorn was born on October 11, 1927, in Bridgeton, New Jersey. Following graduation from Bridgeton High School, he attended Rutgers University, where he received his bachelors of Science Degree in Agriculture, with honors. As a young man, Sorn learned first hand about the fruit and vegetable industry while working in the fields of New Jersey harvesting a variety of commodities. While in school during the 1940s and early 1950s, he worked for Seabrook Fanning Corporation in New Jersey in a variety of capacities, particularly in labor related jobs. In 1953, his labor expertise landed him a temporary job with the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association that ended up becoming a full time job as assistant manager of FFVA's Labor Division. He was promoted to manager of the Labor Division in 1967, and became well know throughout Florida and the United States as on of the authorities on farm labor in the country. It was during that Sorn began his longtime affiliation with the late Wendall Rollason and the Redlands Christian Migrant Association. During his 30-year affiliation with RCMA on the board and for the past 12 years as its President, Sorn worked diligently to provide day care ion, the first of its kind in the country to assist the association's members in effectively dealing with crop protection and water issues. He served on numerous national committees and organizations, including the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association's Government Relations Committee and its U.S./Mexico Task Force. He also served on the Executive Committees of the National Environmental Development Association and the National Council of Agricultural Employers. He was a board member of the Florida Agricultural Tax Council and the Agribusiness Institute of Florida. He was appointed by the President to serve on the National Commission on Agricultural Workers, and by the Governor to serve on the Florida Advisory Council on Farm Worker Affairs. During his tenure as FFVA's chief executive, he led the fight for Florida growers on critical issues such as immigration reform, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and maintaining access to crop protection tools. Sorn is particularly well known for his negotiating skills. Weather it was during negotiations for contracts on behalf of U.S Employers of West Indies Workers or in controversial issues such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, Sorn sought common ground and won- win solutions for all parties. Sorn also consistently won high praise from numerous state and federal legislators and government officials for his straightforward and credible approach to government relations. Sorn retired from FFVA in December 1992 after a highly successful 40-year career. Among his numerous awards and honors are: the FFVA Distinguished Service Award; a Resolution of Appreciation by the Florida Cabinet for "Exemplary Public Service in the Field of Agriculture;" and Award of Merit for "distinguished Service to the Food and Agricultural Industry of Florida" from the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida; an Award of Appreciation from the Redlands Christian Migrant Association; and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Governor's Advisory Council on Farm Workers Affairs. Sorn and his wife, Joyce, live in Orlando. They have one daughter, Valerie Sorn. Sorn is active in his community and is an honorary life member of the Optimist Club of Orlando, Inc., and one of its past presidents.
