Frank Bouis

Obituary of Frank Bouis Frank Stephan Bouis, age 85 of Yalaha, Florida died November 8, 2011 at home with his loved ones present. He was predeceased by his parents, Clarence Moore and Marjorie Preston (Smith)Bouis; his brother, John Eben Bouis, Sr; and his first wife, Virginia Bailey Bouis. Frank was born April 18, 1926 in Swissvale, Pa., and grew up in Winchester County, New York and Washington, D.C. He attended University of Maryland where he was a member of the ATO Fraternity, and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass. in 1948 after a brief interruption to attend Flight School and serve in the United States Navy during WWII. Upon his MIT graduation with a Mechanical Engineering degree, he went to work at Wright Patterson Air Force base in Dayton, Ohio in the Research Laboratory on the early liquid oxygen fuel development. Because of his love for Florida and the outdoors, he left the research world and in late 1950 moved to Gainesville to attend the University of Florida for further studies, graduating in 1952 with a degree in Citriculture. He later returned to UF in the 1980s to do post graduate studies in Anthropology and Archeology. His other love, of the water and sailing, prompted him to study, qualify for and obtain a certified United States Coast Guard Auxilliary Commercial Captain's license. Additionally, after being first on the scene of an automobile accident, and feeling helpless to help the victims, he studied, qualified for and became certified as a Paramedic. He spent his early agricultural years working for his grandfather, C.G. Bouis in Ft. Meade, Florida, then with Sam Slough in Dade City, Florida continuing his endeavors in the citrus and cattle industry. Upon the death of his grandfather in 1958, Frank and his father moved to Leesburg, and took over the family citrus business and acreage in Marion, Lake, and Polk counties. For many years he has been a successful citrus grower in his own right, but also operated a 4000 acre grove caretaking, harvesting and marketing business in central Florida. Since the devastating freezes of the 1980's, Frank has continued to replant and maintain his own acreage in the Howey in the Hills & Yalaha, Florida area. Frank has been a recognized leader in Florida's citrus and agricultural industries for many years. He has served as President of Lake County Farm Bureau, President of Univ. of Fla. Agricultural Counsel and SHARE, President of Florida Citrus Mutual, President of Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, and President of Florida Citrus Grower's Associates. Additionally he served on the Florida Citrus Commission for two terms (appointed by then Gov. Bob Graham), and served as Chairman for Gov. Graham's Future of Florida Agriculture Committee to help develop a blue print for where the industry might be heading after the mid 1980's freezes, and the subsequent landscape changes that followed. Frank also did agricultural consulting for US AID and for the World Bank, traveling to Europe, Africa and South America on their behalf. He also participated in the exchange of ideas between The United States agricultural community and the European Union as a representative for the US Chamber of Commerce with the leaders of the EU. He has received many awards and accolades for his dedication to Florida agriculture: Inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame, received recognition by University of Florida's Gamma Sigma Delta Award for Distinguished Service to Agriculture, University of Florida's Institute of Agricultural Sciences' Distinguished Service Award, Florida Fruit & Vegetable's Distinguished Service Award, University of Florida's Citrus Club Man of the Year Award. He has been active in his community both on city and county levels serving for many years as a Director of Citizen's National (Huntington) Bank, a member and President of the Leesburg JayCee's and Rotary Clubs, served on numerous Lake County committees to help guide early Comprehensive Planning with special interests towards protecting the property rights of land owners. Frank also received the Lake County Community Service Business Achievement Award and the Lake County Property Appraisers' Man of the Year Award. He is survived by his wife, Cathye (Jones) Bouis; 3 daughters, Stephanie Bailey Bouis of Chapel Hill, NC, Martha Bouis Peterson (C. Linn) of Southwest Ranches, Fl, Patricia Bouis Thompson (Paul M.) of Mt. Plymouth Fl, a son, Henry Jacob Stephan Bouis (Traci) of Clermont, Fl; 6 grandchildren, Caylinn Virginia Bouis Peterson, Marlee Frances Bouis Peterson, Bailey Virginia Thompson, Rachel Isabella Thompson, Bobbi Marie Valant, and Jacob Preston Bouis. He is also survived by his nephews, John Eben Bouis, Jr. (Debbie) of Olympia, Wash, Jeremy Rynell Bouis of Irvington, Va., Charles Michael Bouis (Kim) of White Stone, Va. and niece Deborah Bouis Rhodes (Hubert) of Irvington, Va. He has several cousins, great nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to join the family on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at the Leesburg Boat Club @ Venetian Gardens from 2:00-4:00 for Fellowship, and Celebration of Frank. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Florida Southern College, noted for the Citrus Hall of Fame Museum and Archives, the Frank S. Bouis Fellowship. Please contact John Jackson at jackson71344@yahoo.com for further information. Services Friends are invited to join the family on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at the Leesburg Boat Club @ Venetian Gardens from 2:00-4:00 for Fellowship, and Celebration of Frank. Memorial Donations Venetian Gardens from 2:00-4:00 for Fellowship, and Celebration of Frank. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Florida Southern College, noted for the Citrus Hall of Fame Museum and Archives, the Frank S. Bouis Fellowship. Please contact John Jackson at jackson71344@yahoo.com for further information.

Frank Bouis

April 18, 1926 - November 8, 2011