By Brenda Eubanks Burnette
Florida Citrus Mutual was organized in 1948 to help stabilize citrus prices. The organization eventually expanded its focus to address the need for a strong unified voice for the Florida citrus industry on issues debated at the local, state and federal level. However, to get that unified voice from the board members was often a challenge, especially with some of the colorful pioneers who represented their districts over the years. And so, like the Round Table in King Arthur’s tale, a conference table was built.
Lakeland architect Donovan Dean designed numerous buildings for Publix and other major companies in the area. He also designed the original Florida Citrus Mutual building on Orange Avenue in Lakeland. Inside, he created a unique oval-shaped table designed specifically for the meeting room in the new building. The blueprints for the table, dated March 12, 1951, show it was 20 feet long and 5 feet wide. It seated 22 large barrel-shaped chairs spaced 6 inches apart.
Mutual’s founding fathers were Latt Maxcy, Barney Kilgore, C.C. Commander, J.A. Griffin and James C. Morton. Major pioneers of the Florida citrus industry, they are all in the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame today, as are many other Mutual presidents and members. Maxcy served as Mutual’s first president. The founding fathers formed the foundation of the fledgling organization that had 6,000 members in its first year and grew to 12,000 grower members at its peak. So, that table has heard a lot of discussions — some very heated and contentious, I’ve been told. But eventually the debates resulted in consensus for the good of the industry.
Twenty years later, in 1972, Florida Citrus Mutual gave the table to the Florida Citrus Showcase in Winter Haven for use in its new home, known as the Orange Dome. The new location featured a history of the Florida citrus industry in three-dimensional dioramas depicting various facets of citrus production and processing. The Showcase handled the Florida Citrus Festival, the Florida Citrus Queen Pageant and the Governor’s Luncheon, which honored the inductees to the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. So, the table hosted many a cocktail and heard even more stories about the men and women who helped shape the Florida citrus industry … until the Showcase dissolved in 2009.
Therefore, imagine my surprise when I went into Mutual’s offices in Bartow and there sat the table! Apparently, Mutual’s Kevin Metheny acquired the table from the Showcase for the association. However, he had no idea the table had originated from Mutual until it was disassembled for moving and a brass plaque on the underside was found that reads: “Presented to Florida Citrus Showcase by Florida Citrus Mutual, 1972.”
Today, the table sits grandly — with a new plaque — providing Mutual’s leaders with a place to continue discussions on the welfare of the Florida citrus industry.
If only the table could talk … that would be a great oral history interview!
Brenda Eubanks Burnette is executive director of the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. Pieces of the Past is presented in partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center in Lakeland.
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