H. Gary Morse
H. Gary Morse | |
---|---|
Born | Harold Gary Schwartz December 19, 1936 Chicago, Illinois |
Died | October 29, 2014 | (aged 77)
Occupation | Community developer |
Employer | Holding Company of the Villages Ltd. |
Spouse(s) | Sharon (d. 1999) Renee (his death, 2014) |
Children | 3 |
Relatives | Megan Boone (granddaughter) |
Harold Gary Morse (December 19, 1936 – October 29, 2014) was an American billionaire and the developer, along with his father Harold Schwartz, of the active adult retirement community The Villages, Florida.
Personal life
Morse was born in
H. Gary Morse was first married to Sharon Morse, who died in 1999. Morse and his second wife, Renee, lived together in a house in
"Dad never sought the limelight. He was content to stay in the background and enjoy seeing Villagers revel in this amazing lifestyle of their adopted hometown. While he was a friend and adviser to captains of industry, presidents and heads of state, he never lost focus on this community and making it the greatest retirement development in the world."[4]
He was a close friend of former United States Surgical Corporation CEO Leon C. Hirsch,[6] and is the grandfather of actress Megan Boone.[7]
Morse died on October 29, 2014.[4]
Career
Prior to being a land developer, Morse worked as an advertising executive in Chicago.[8] In 1983, Morse moved to Florida to take over his father's business selling vacant lots to mobile home owners. Morse instead decided to build homes, restaurants, pools, and golf courses, and by 1986 Morse was selling more than 500 homes per year. In 2011, the Holding Company of the Villages Ltd. generated at least $550 million in revenue. Morse also was the proprietor of a bank, an insurance company, a local newspaper and other properties.[3] Morse has been described as owning "just about everything" in the community.[9][10]
In 2008, Morse settled for a $40 million class-action lawsuit that alleged that he had misused monthly community amenity fees.[11]
The
Political involvement
Morse, his children, and The Villages have donated tens of thousands of dollars to the campaigns of
References
- ^ Yardley, William (2014-11-10). "H. Gary Morse, Who Built Mecca for Retirees, Is Dead at 77". The New York Times. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
- ^ Panzer, Sophie. "Paradise Eluded in 'Some Kind of Heaven'". jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
- ^ a b c d Coffey, Brendan (4 June 2012). "Billionaire Morse Behind Curtain at Villages". Bloomberg. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Villages developer H. Gary Morse praised for his remarkable vision". Villages-News. October 30, 2014. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
- ^ a b Van Sickler, Michael (12 August 2012). "The Villages: Florida retirement community provides foundation for Republican candidates". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
- ^ Show, Christine (5 October 2008). "Developer Gary Morse puts The Villages on political map". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
- ^ Minton, Meta (2020-04-11). "Polo's Paige Boone sells her home at Morse family compound". Villages-News: News, photos, events in The Villages, Florida. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ Curry, Christopher (24 December 2003). "Villages' founder dies at 93". Ocala Star Banner. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
- ^ "The Villages: Florida's Disney World For Retirees". NPR. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
- ^ Pittman, Craig (22 July 2013). "Oh, #Florida!". Slate. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
- ^ Hudak, Stephen (9 March 2008). "Villages developer to pay $40 million for recreation upgrades to settle a lawsuit". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
- ^ Smith, Adam C. (31 January 2013). "Cardenas starts lobbying feds for mega GOP donor Gary Morse". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
- ^ Pittman, Craig (7 July 2002). "One man's crusade". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
- ^ Horowitz, Jason (29 August 2012). "Mega-donors lavished with attention at convention parties". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.