Honoring Distinguished Leaders of the Florida Citrus Industry
KRISTEN CARLSON
2026 HOF INDUCTEE
JAMES REDD
2026 HOF INDUCTEE
DR. L.W. TIMMER
2026 HOF INDUCTEE
BRENDA EUBANKS BURNETTE
2026 HOF INDUCTEE
2026 INDUCTEE
BRENDA
EUBANKS BURNETTE
Brenda Eubanks Burnette has dedicated more than four decades to promoting and preserving the Florida citrus industry. Her involvement began in the early 1980s as Florida Citrus Queen where she served as a skilled spokesperson and ambassador for Florida citrus across the country, and around the world. She later became Executive Director of the Florida Citrus Showcase, coordinating the Florida Citrus Festival and the Miss Florida Citrus Program, and eventually guiding its evolution into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. In 2015, Brenda revived the Miss Florida Citrus program which had stopped in 2003, and since its re-inception, two Miss Florida Citrus winners have gone on to win Miss Florida and represent the state in the Miss America Program. Brenda also co-authored two books on historic citrus crate labels and in 2015 helped establish the Florida Citrus Crate Label Tours, installing almost 100 citrus crate label signs in Lake, Polk, Manatee and Indian River counties to celebrate the industry’s heritage.
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A passionate historian and preservationist, Brenda has conducted extensive oral history interviews, collected photographs and artifacts for the Citrus Archives at Florida Southern College, and continued to support museums and cultural institutions documenting Florida’s citrus legacy. As former Executive Director of the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame, she organized induction events, produced historical videos, and elevated public appreciation for industry leaders. Even in retirement, she remains active in promoting Florida’s citrus heritage. Her sustained dedication, leadership and storytelling have made her one of the industry’s most influential advocates and a highly deserving candidate for recognition in the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame.
2026 INDUCTEE
DR. LAVERN "PETE"
TIMMER
Dr. Lavern “Pete” Timmer will retire on May 31, 2027, after a distinguished 29-year career at the University of Florida’s Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. A Michigan native, he earned his B.S. from Michigan State University and later completed his Ph.D. at the University of California, Riverside, following a Ford Foundation Fellowship in Argentina. Over the course of his career, Pete became a leading expert in citrus diseases, contributing foundational research on viruses, soilborne pathogens, nematodes and decline diseases. His early work included identifying and characterizing citrus psorosis virus and helping develop key diagnostic techniques for citrus blight. He later advanced major programs on Phytophthora root rot, Alternaria brown spot, greasy spot, scab, melanose, citrus canker and other significant citrus diseases, often developing new detection tools, epidemiological models and management strategies now used worldwide.
In addition to his research, Pete played an important extension role, contributing to the Florida Citrus Pest Management Guide, presenting widely to industry groups, maintaining a disease information hotline, and providing critical guidance on emerging threats such as canker and greening. His collaborations spanned the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe, resulting in influential international research programs and frequent invitations to speak and consult globally. A Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society and recipient of the Lee Hutchins Award, he also served in editorial and leadership roles within APS and at CREC. Pete will remain in Lake Alfred with his wife, Nancy, and looks forward to continuing his involvement in plant pathology while spending more time traveling, birding and visiting his children and grandchildren.
2026 INDUCTEE
DR. JAMES
REDD
Dr. James Redd (1918–1999) was a Florida-born chemist and engineer whose pioneering work from the 1940s through the 1960s helped transform the state’s citrus industry. A Ph.D.–trained researcher and professor, he became a leading authority in citrus processing, playing a key role in major technological breakthroughs, including advances in evaporator design and essence collection systems. His inventive insight into orange juice flavor chemistry led him to found Redd Laboratories in 1961 and Intercit in 1971, launching what became Florida’s thriving citrus flavor industry. Through these companies, Redd created the marketplace for citrus essences and addback flavors—products that remain in use today—and propelled the industry’s shift from traditional cutback juice to the modern use of essence in frozen concentrated orange juice.
Despite his groundbreaking work, Redd was known for his humility, working largely behind the scenes while earning deep respect across all levels of the citrus industry. He blended scientific rigor with practical problem solving and collaborated comfortably with both equipment operators and senior executives. By the time of his passing in 1999, Redd was beloved by colleagues and recognized as the driving force behind a now global segment of Florida’s citrus sector. His legacy endures in the technologies he developed, the companies he built, the experts he trained and the vibrant citrus flavor industry that continues to grow from the foundation he established.
2026 INDUCTEE
KRISTEN
CARLSON
Kristen Carlson has spent more than four decades shaping the integrity, policy and future of the Florida citrus industry. Early in her career as general counsel for the Florida Department of Citrus, she helped end widespread orange juice adulteration by building the scientific and legal case that prompted FDA criminal charges. She later challenged Florida’s “equalization tax” on imported juice—a case she pursued on constitutional principle despite political fallout—and she continued to earn respect as a trusted adviser, representing U.S. citrus interests before federal agencies and international standards bodies. Her work has influenced labeling rules, strengthened product integrity, guided federal regulatory compliance and helped redefine standards of identity for orange juice.
Carlson’s leadership also proved critical during the industry’s fight against citrus greening (HLB). Drawing on her strategic and legal expertise, she led the creation of the CRAFT program, a first-of-its-kind model that combines grower replanting support with real-world field research. Under her direction, the initiative secured federal funding, unified grower and agency partners, adopted drone-based data collection and became a national blueprint for agricultural innovation. Recognized with the Florida Grower Citrus Achievement Award, Carlson is widely regarded as one of the industry’s most influential and principled figures, known for her integrity, depth of expertise and enduring impact on Florida citrus.
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BEHR, ROBERT
STREETMAN, GEORGE
YOUNG, LELAND
EDWARDS, TILLIS
HAMNER, GEORGE
TAYLOR, ED
BOWEN, FRANKLIN
SMITH, ALFRED
JACKSON, JR., JOHN
PROSSER, JR., LEW
PUTNAM, ADAM
SORRELLS, STEVEN
GARDNER, FRANK
KENNEDY, SR., JOHN
PRICE, SR., KARICK
HURNER, JR., TIM
KINNEY, RICHARD
MCCLURE, PETER
ALBRIGO, GENE
KAHN, MARVIN
ELLIS, JAMES
ROBINSON, RALPH
SPARKS, MICHAEL
CASTLE, WILLIAM
NORRIS, JOHN
STORY, VICTOR
FARYNA, NICK
JOHNSON, SHERWOOD
TODD, NORMAN
UPDIKE, SR., JOHN
CARUSO, STEPHAN
PITMAN, JR., ROBERT
PREVATT, RUBERT
DANCY, FRANCIS
HARDING, PAUL
HOOKS, HOMER
SCHIRARD, BRANTLEY
VELDHUIS, MATTHEW
BARBEN, ROBERT
HUNT, FRANK
LESTER, BERNARD
BECKER, WILLIAM
BEELAND, EDGAR
BULLOCK, ROBERT
SAVAGE, FRANK
AUSTIN, GEORGE
CRITTENDEN, EARL
EGAN, BERNARD
MCTEER, HAROLD
SORRELLS, HOWARD
CHICONE, JR., JERRY
GRIFFIN, III, BEN
KNIGHT, SR., VICTOR
GRAVES, JR., JAMES
MARSHBURN, JOSEPH
JACKSON, LARRY
SCHULZ, HENRY
SWANSON, HENRY
WARD, GEORGE
LEE, JR., ORIE
MCKOWN, BOBBY
BICE, LORIN
CREWS, ELTON
LINS, DONALD
ISMAIL, MOHAMED
KILLEBREW, SAM
BISHOP, PUTNAM
HARDY, NANCY
HERNDON, PHILLIP
SIMPSON, JR., HOWARD
ATTAWAY, SR., JOHN
GREENE, JR., BARNETTE
PRATT, JAMES
BOUIS, FRANK
ENGLISH, HUGH
PETERSEN, JOHN
CONNER, VERNON
DAVIS, SR., JOE
GRIFFITHS, JR., JAMES
HARRIS, JAMES
MACK, THOMAS
REITZ, JULIUS
WHEELER, BENJAMIN
ADAMS, BEN
KESTERSON, JAMES
POUNDS, HOYLE
STREETMAN, COLA
ALBRITTON, KARL
EDSALL, ROBERT
GRIERSON, WILLIAM
UPDIKE, SR., A.R.
SNIVELY, ROBERT
SEYMOUR, FRANK
CARLTON, WILLIAM
GURNETT, JOHN
HUGHES, LENA
PAUL, JOHN
RICHARDSON, DANFORTH
ROE, WILLARD
ROPER, FRANK
CONNER, DOYLE
DEBUSK, E.F.
KREZDORN, ALFRED
NELSON, JOHN
KOO, ROBERT
MATHIAS, ARTHUR
RALEY, WILLIAM
FOSGATE, CHESTER
HUNT, DEELEY
BRYANT, ANITA
PARRISH, JR., JESSE
STRICKLAND, WILLIAM
STEWARD, IVAN
STUBBS, WILLIAM
PHILLIPS, PHILIP
RUTLEDGE, ROBERT
SAURMAN, VERNON
SLAYTON, MILO
YOTHERS, WILLIAM
ATKINS, CEDRIC
MOORE, EDWIN
NORMAN, GERALD
BUCKALEW, MARION
EDWARDS, WILLIAM
MINTON, O.C.
PREVATT, JENNINGS
D'ALBORA, SR., JOHN
HUFF, O.D.
ROBERTSON, PAUL
BANKS, SAM
JOHNSON, WARREN
GRIFFIN, BEN
KEENE, DOLPH
RATHBURN, C.C.
LAWRENCE, FRED
LESLEY, JOHN
RILEY, HERBERT
ROSSI, ANTHONY
ZIEGLER, LOUIS
THOMPSON, W.L.
FLOYD, CAROL
REITZ, HERMAN
REYNOLDS, ROBERT
SANFORD, HENRY
FOX, JOHN
MACDOWELL, LOUIS
PEDERSEN, WILLIAM
CAMP, ARTHUR
WALKER, MARVIN
WHITMORE, ALBRA
MORTON, JAMES
NORRIS, ROBERT
PETERS, PHILLIP
BRYAN, O.C.
GRAVES, JAMES
SWANN, THOMAS
CRUTCHFIELD, JAMES
HOLLAND, SPESSARD
MAXCY, LATIMER
ADAMS, DUDLEY
EDWARDS, SR., LAMARCUS
FEE, WILLIAM
HART, EDMUND
HERLONG, ALBERT
MANVILLE, ARTHUR
MOWRY, HAROLD
CROSBY, WILLIAM
HOLLAND, FRANK
HUBBARD, HENRY
INMAN, SIDNEY
NEWELL, WILMON
DUMMITT, DOUGLASS
HUME, HAROLD
OLSON, JOHN
SWINDELL, JAMES
LINDSEY, CARROLL
MAYO, NATHAN
MICHAEL, A.B.
TAYLOR, JOHN
CHASE, SR., SYDNEY
EDWARDS, JR., LAMARCUS
PHILIPPE, ODET
KILGORE, BARNARD
ROE, WILLIAM
SKINNER, LEE
TILDEN, ALFRED
CHASE, JOSHUA
COMMANDER, CHARLES
CORNELL, HAROLD
FLOYD, BAYARD
GRIFFIN, JAMES
INMAN, FREDERICK
KIRKLAND, LYNN
MORROW, JAMES
PARRISH, JESSE
POLK, RALPH
PORCHER, EDWARD
ROSS, JOHNSON
SNIVELY, SR., JOHN
STREET, CLAUDE
SWINGLE, WALTER
WARTMANN, EDGAR
2025 INDUCTEE
DR. CHARLES
ADAMS
As a partner in Adams Packing Association and Growers Fertilizer Corporation, Dr. Charles W. Adams was a leader in his field and impacted the citrus industry with his progressive ideas for growth. During the 1920s, '30s and '40s, Dr. Adams, Mac Morrow and L.P. Kirkland were responsible for the building and operating of a significant portion of the packing, processing, and marketing infrastructure that enabled citrus to grow into the major industry it became. It was a critical period for Florida’s citrus industry and a remarkable accomplishment considering the immense challenges of the Great Depression and World War II. Adams moved from Michigan to Florida in 1911 and began what would become a 34-year involvement in Florida’s citrus industry, purchasing a grove located between Lake Alfred and Auburndale. In Detroit, 'Doc' Adams, as he was known, had developed what may have been the world’s largest dentist's office. His philosophy was one of growth and he applied the same philosophy to the citrus operation by acquiring existing groves and planting new ones. With Robert T. “Bob” Reynolds (HOF 1976) as grove manager, Adams Groves was reportedly Florida’s first grower to reach the 1,000-acre mark. After seeing success as a grower, Adams then turned his attention to other parts of the industry and, in 1927, he teamed with J.M. Morrow (HOF 1962) and L.P. Kirkland (HOF 1962) to form Adams Packing Association in Auburndale.
They built what became one of the largest and most modern packinghouses of its time. In 1934, Dr. Adams and Charles Shinn started Growers Fertilizer Cooperative in Lake Alfred to provide a reliable supply of quality fertilizer for their groves and those of other growers. In 1941, Adams Packing entered the juice business and eventually became what was at one time the fifth-largest juice processor in the state. Later, industry standouts Sam H. Killebrew, Sr. (HOF 2003) and Ben Adams (HOF 1996) had key roles at Adams Packing Association. Dr. Charles W. Adams made contributions to the Florida citrus industry not just as a grower, but also by the instrumental role he played in building and operating critical fertilizer blending, fruit packing, and juice processing infrastructure starting in the late 1920s. Such infrastructure was crucial for Florida citrus to be able to grow into the major industry that it did. Although he died in 1945, his impact on the industry continued to be felt as others carried on what he had set into motion as one of the Florida citrus industry’s true pioneers.
