Victor Price Leavengood

Passed away April 13, 2015. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mildred and Hansel Leavengood, and his daughter, Sally Leavengood. He graduated from the University of Florida where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He received his MBA from Harvard Business School. Leavengood began his newspaper career with the Ocala Star Banner before joining the Tampa Tribune in 1959. While serving on the executive staff of the Tampa Tribune he was elected as President of the Florida Daily Newspaper Association. He moved to GTE of Florida in 1964, and retired as Secretary and Treasurer of General Telephone Company of Florida in 1987. His early community activities include serving as the first Chairman of the Tampa Economic Opportunity Council. He served the Greater Tampa United Way as Drive Chairman and President, and continued to serve for ten years as Treasurer. He was President of Hillsborough Community Coordinating Council, Vice Chair of the Hillsborough County Hospital authority, Treasurer of Suncoast Girl Scout Council and served on the National Board of Girl Scouts. He was Chair of City of Tampa Commission on Art in Public Places; Founder, Director, and Treasurer of The Florida Aquarium; Director of Lowry Park Zoo; Chair of Tampa Bay International Super Task Force; and Director and Chair of Merchants Association of Florida. He also served two terms as Chair of LifePath Hospice. Since the founding of University of South Florida, Leavengood has served as an advisor to Florida Mental Health Institute, School of Architecture, School of Art and Art History, Institute for Research in Art, Graphic Studio and Contemporary Art Museum where a gallery of the building is named the Lee and Victor Leavengood Gallery. The University has honored him with the Class of '56 Award, Distinguished Citizen Award, and President's Fellow Medallion for long term service to the University. In 2013, Leavengood was inducted into the Emeritus Society of USF Foundation Board of Directors for his 25 years of service, including 4 years as Chairman. Leavengood served as a Director of Barnett Banks of Ocala and Tampa, as well as a Director of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida. He was a member of the Krewe of Gasparilla and Tampa Yacht and Country Club. He served on the board of Tampa Museum of Art and was a founding member of Tampa Bay History Center.