William Hinson "Bill" Bevis, Sr.

William Hinson "Bill" Bevis, Sr., of Tallahassee, passed away Friday, December 31, 2010 in Tallahassee, at the age of 90. Services will be held at 11:00 AM, EST, Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at Killearn United Methodist Church, 2800 South Shamrock in Tallahassee. The family will receive friends at the church, following the service. Burial will follow at 3:00 PM, CST at Bascom United Methodist Church Cemetery in Bascom, Florida. Gifts in memory of Mr. Bevis may be made to the Southern Scholarship Foundation, 322 Stadium Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32304 (www.southernscholarship.org). Mr. Bevis was born March 20, 1920 in Two Egg to John Willis and Melissa Mae Hinson Bevis. He graduated from Marianna High School, where he received All-State honors, when Florida named only one All-State team for all schools. He earned a football scholarship from the University of Tennessee, where he played for Gen. Robert Neyland and later Coach Bowden Wyatt. He captained the team that played in Tennessee's last Rose Bowl appearance in 1945, and also played in the 1943 Sugar Bowl. A blocking back in Neyland's single wing offense, he was a two time winner of the Jacob's Blocking Trophy. He also served as Senior Class President . He received his business and accounting degree from Tennessee and became an assistant football coach at the school, and in 1984 was inducted into the University of Tennessee Football Hall of Fame. In 1953 he moved to Fort Meade, Florida to follow a dream of becoming a citrus grower. It was there that he met and married Nancy Ann Varn and started his family. Mr. Bevis' career involved both the public and private sectors. His legacy with the citrus industry still continues with his family. He also owned and operated the Fort Meade Motel, Fort Meade Ford, and was also a partner in the funeral home in Fort Meade. He served as Mayor of Fort Meade, and was named its outstanding citizen in 1963. An avid history buff, he helped establish the Polk County Historical Society. In 1968 he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives and served two terms. He also was elected statewide and served two terms as a Florida Public Service Commissioner, and retired from public service after serving on the Florida Crimes Compensation Commission. Through the years he was active in many civic organizations and endeavors, as well as being an active member of Killearn United Methodist Church. Survivors include his brother Russell R. Bevis of Tallahassee; two sons, William H. "Buddy" Bevis and his wife Mary Warren of Tallahassee and Hugh Thomas Bevis and his wife Sharon of Fort Meade; a daughter Irma Melissa Bevis Camp and her husband Richard of Tallahassee; and eight grandchildren, William Hinson Bevis, III, Laura Sidney Bevis, Elizabeth Rose Bevis, Amy Ann Bevis, Thomas Hugh Bevis, Nancy Margaret Camp, Cole Engram Camp and Robert Conley Camp. He was preceded in death by his parents; and three sisters, Johnnie Mae Bevis Dixon, Bobbie Bevis Southerland and Pauline Bevis Grant. BEVIS FUNERAL HOME of Tallahassee (850/385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) is handling arrangements.

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William Hinson "Bill" Bevis, Sr.

March 25, 1920 - December 31, 2010