Elton L. Hinton came to Florida in 1948 to teach agriculture at Turkey Creek High School, where he remained until 1967, when he became supervisor for vocational agriculture programs in Hillsborough County. He was a strong influence in developing the instructional curriculum for vocational agriculture in Florida and he worked endless hours for better legislation, policies, and funding for vocational programs.   During his career, Hinton was a leader in numerous civic and professional organizations at the local, state and national level, while providing leadership for the youth livestock program at the Florida State Fair.  Hinton was a founding member of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association and helped develop a strawberry marketing cooperative in Hillsborough County. He is an inductee into the Hall of Fame of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association.