J.R. “Jack” Spratt was a native of North Carolina whose accomplishments spanned all aspects of Florida agriculture, from citrus groves to cattle ranches, forestry projects, mining operations and vegetable production. Spratt graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in forestry and he became assistant state forester after serving in the Navy during World War II. He was a member of the Hendry County School Board and the South Florida Water Management District governing board and received the Florida Forestry Association’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Forestry and the Florida Wildlife Federation’s Outstanding Work in Wildlife Management and Conservation award.