Citrus leader Lenny Smith passes

Citrus businessman and agricultural leader Leonard C. (Lenny) Smith III, 57, passed away early Tuesday morning at Highlands Regional Medical Center.

Smith was president of The Great Fruit Co. Inc., Sebring and served on the board of directors of Highlands Regional Medical Center, Riverside National Bank and Florida's Natural Growers/Citrus World Inc.

He was an organizing member of the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association, which was founded in 1990, and served as its third president in 1992.

"He was instrumental in keeping it going and keeping it strong," Ray Royce, the citrus growers association's executive director, said Tuesday. "He was a joy to work with and was very supportive of ag here in the county.

"He had a number of medical struggles through his life, but he had a zest for life and had an incredible attitude."

He was an extremely outgoing guy and he's obviously going to be sorely missed, not only from those of us within the citrus community, Royce said. He was a Highlands County guy; His friends run throughout every social/economic group in the county so he's going to be very missed.

Bobby Barben said Smith was a "dear friend."

"He was just a really great guy," Barben said. "He had a strong will to live; He lived through things that would have killed 10 people.

"He was a great guy and it's a loss for the community."

Smith was born in Avon Park on Oct. 28, 1952.

He is survived by his wife, Sebrina; son, Leonard C. (LC) Smith IV; daughter, Somer Lynn Smith, of Sebring; father, Leonard C. (Gus) Smith Jr. and sisters: Gloria S. McNorton, Julia Finnigan and Tracy Fitch, all of Sebring.

Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home in Sebring is handling the arrangements.