Name: Harold McTeer.
Age: 77.
Family: Wife, Mary; three grown children; five grandchildren; one great grandchild.
Residence: Winter Haven.
Education: Haines City High School, Ohio State University, U.S. Army, University of Florida.
Career: W.H. Clark Fruit Company in grove care management, Kaiser Agricultural Chemical Company as farm market center manager, and sales and marketing management for DuPont Ag Products.
How did you get into the citrus industry? My father was a citrus grower, and I grew up working in the grove with him. Then, along with owning my own groves, I was in a grove owner business with my brother Louis.
I had 270 acres of groves at one time. I now have 50 acres of citrus groves.
I spent 25 years on the board of directors for Haines City Citrus Growers Association, the longest of any director, and also served as vice president of the board as well.
What's a typical day in the life of a grower? When I worked for DuPont, all my personal time, weekends and holidays were spent in our personal groves. That's typical.
What are some of your proudest moments in citrus? Being able to provide the use of my land to the Citrus Research and Education Center for the University of Florida's Experimental Station (in Lake Alfred).
What is the toughest thing about being a citrus grower? You have no control over the weather, such as freezes and hail storms. New diseases such as canker and greening are tough, and, of course, the market going up and down. You have to diversify and save when you have a good year.
Are you a member of any other organizations in the community? I belong to Faith Baptist Church in Winter Haven, and I have been a member of Gideons International for eight years.
What are some of the recognitions you have achieved? In 1985, I was presented with the DuPont Hall of Fame award, one of only 15 professionals to ever be chosen for the top honor.
My second hall of fame award was just given to me on March 5 this year when I was selected to be in the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. That was for distinguished leadership and significant contribution to the Florida citrus industry.
Fifteen DuPonters flew in from across the states to be with me during this time. That was thrilling for me.
DuPont used to send sales personnel to train under me for three years at a time in the citrus division. Some of them had never seen an orange tree before.
I also received the Marketing Achievement Award in the U.S. Business Division for DuPont, and I received the Supreme Recognition for support in the Citrus Research and Education Center for the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
What do you attribute to your success? God has blessed us. Without His being our guide, our life would not have been the same.
My wife has also been a wonderful helpmate and has been by my side and helped. Without her help, I could not have done what we together have accomplished.
We have had the support of all the family, friends and people in the industry.
