William Herlong

Obituary of William Herlong William Frederick Herlong, Jr., 76 of Leesburg, Florida, died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of November 14, 2009. He was a loving and devoted husband, father and friend. Bill loved his family and his church and was always willing to serve. Bill was born in Leesburg on August 16, 1933, to William "Fred" Herlong and wife Louise, both also from Lake County, Florida. He was raised as an only child, but enjoyed close familial bonds with his many cousins, uncles, aunts and friends of the Herlong clan, a family related to the Lee family, founders of Leesburg. After graduating from Leesburg High School in 1951, Bill attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida where he and Margaret Ann LaBorde, also from Leesburg, discovered a love borne from a 20-year friendship and married shortly after both graduated, Bill with a degree in Business Administration, from UF in June 1955. Bill joined the National Guard and entered the U.S. Army as a Sergeant stationed at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina where he and "Marg" lived until fulfilling his military duty and returning to Leesburg with their first child, Ann Louise, in 1957. They settled into what remains the family's primary residence on Shore Acres Drive. The birth of two more children, another daughter, Mary Frances (Fran) and a son, William (Bill) F. Herlong III, took place in 1959 and 1965 accordingly. Bill joined the family citrus business as a manager of the A.S Herlong Packing Company for 10 years until in 1968, Bill ran for U.S. Congress, once again demonstrating his willingness to serve both his community and nation. Although narrowly defeated in his run for office, he gained widespread respect and trust among many people of prominent stature in both the private and public sectors, serving as Chairman and Board Member of the Oklawaha Basin Recreation and Water Conservation and Control Authority from 1969-1972 as well as Chairman of Florida's ASC Committee for the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1969-1974. It was during this time that he and Margaret were invited to dine at the White House with the President of the United States. He then took a position as Vice President of Public Relations at locally owned Citizens' National Bank. Upon his retirement at the age of 50, Bill continued to serve on the Board of Directors until the bank was sold to Huntington Bank. Through the years, Bill received numerous civic awards and accolades for his many contributions including serving as President of the Leesburg Chamber of Commerce in 1967, President of Lake Sumter Community College Foundation from 1983-1985, board member for Leesburg's Public Library and numerous other community organizations. In recent years, he was also instrumental in establishing the Center State Bank of Mid-Florida in Leesburg for which he served as an organizing Director on the Board of Directors, and was subsequently appointed as Director Emeritus. Much of Bill's life revolved around his close relationship with the Episcopal church. His mother and father were deeply devout and his father, the Rev. "Fred" Herlong, entered the ministry when Bill was attending university. Bill and all of his and Margaret's children, as well as three of his grandchildren, were baptized at St. James Episcopal church in Leesburg. He and Margaret were also married at St. James, where he served numerous times as Senior Warden and Vestry member, as well as server, lector, usher and choir member. Between the years of 1970 and 2005, Bill also served 7 terms of 2-3 years each on the board and standing committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida. Bill is survived by his wife of 54 years, Margaret Ann of Leesburg, daughter Ann Louise Tuke and husband Richard Haydon of Ponce Inlet, Florida, daughter Mary Frances (Fran) McDonald and husband Mark of Kalaheo, Kauai, son William (Bill) F. Herlong, III and wife Katie of Orlando, and five grandchildren Kelsey Lee McDonald, Kyle Marshall McDonald, Natalie Lorraine Tuke, Grace McConnell Herlong and Anna Frances Herlong. Services A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Nov. 23, at St. James Episcopal Church followed by an interment of ashes in the St. James Memorial Garden. Friends and family are invited to a celebration of Bill's life following the service (approximately 12-2pm) at the Opera House at 108 S. 5th Street in Leesburg. Memorials In lieu of flowers, contributions are requested to be made to the St. James Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, 204 Lee St., Leesburg, Fla. 34748-4915.

William Herlong

August 16, 1933 - November 14, 2009