Eugene Badger was born in Hastings, Florida, and grew up on his family’s potato farm. This early connection to agriculture grew into a lifelong commitment to advancing Florida agriculture and advocating on its behalf. Badger graduated from the University of Florida in 1949 with a B.S.A. in agriculture economics and education. Following graduation, he began...

Dr. W. Bernard Lester was born in Havana, Florida, and grew up on a “shadeback farm” that produced the tobacco plants that provided the outer wrappers for cigars. Lester was involved in Havana High School’s Future Farmers of America, earned an Eagle Scout designation and received the Service Award from the American Legion. Following his...

Maxey D. Love, Jr., served on the University of Florida’s Student Council and was president of the Agricultural Economics Club. After graduation in 1959, he went on to work for the Florida Council of Farmer Cooperatives. Love held such positions as chief executive officer for the Federal Loan Bank, Federal Intermediate Credit Bank and the...