Page 45 - Florida Sentinel 7-10-20

Feature
National
Popular Tampa Golfer Passes After Illness
Billionaire Robert Smith Calls On Corporations To Adopt His 2% ‘Reparative’ Plan For Black People
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
A popular Tampa man and avid golfer lost his battle with cancer last Thursday, July 2nd. Mr. Samuel Major Hunter was 78- years-old.
A native of Jakin, Georgia, Mr. Hunter was born to the union of Stephen (Sam) and Frankie Mae Hunter. He was the youngest of 6 chil- dren.
Mr. Hunter graduated from Washington High School, in May 1960, as the class Salutatorian. While at- tending high school, he en- joyed playing basketball, track, and baseball.
After graduation, Mr. Hunter attended Johnson C. Smith University in Char- lotte, North Carolina from 1960 – 1961. In December 1961 Sam moved to Tampa, Florida and received his first job at Harris Paints where he was the first African Ameri- can hired into the company.
While working at the com- pany, he attended Gibbs Jr. College part time until 1964 after deciding to take a year off from school. His brother, Frank, informed the owner that Mr. Hunter had quit school. As a result, Harris Paints offered to pay his tu- ition at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU).
In 1965, Mr. Hunter en- tered FAMU, but was drafted into the U. S. Army after a year.
SAMUEL HUNTER 3/21/1942 to 7/2/2020
As a member of the mili- tary, Mr. Hunter earned his certification as a 32B radio mechanic before entering the Vietnam Conflict. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1969 as a SPC5.
He never abandoned his desire to attend college and continued his education in 1969 at the University of South Florida. He also worked full time at Harris Paints. He left USF in 1973 as a senior and pursued a career in trade school, where he earned certification as an electrician.
His next place of employ- ment was Pabst Brewing Company. He worked at Pabst from 1973 to 1988 as a maintenance mechanic be- fore joining Tampa Electric Company (TECO) in 1989. While at TECO, Mr. Hunter earned his hazardous mate- rial certification as a produc- tion apprentice. He retired from TECO on April 1, 2007.
An avid golfer, Mr. Hunter was introduced to
the game at Rogers Park Golf Course in 1964. He continued to enjoy the game for nearly 50 years. Mr. Hunter met professional golfers who shared advice with him.
During his tenure as a golfer, Mr. Hunter made four holes-in-one. The last, which earned him a new Chevrolet Tahoe SUV, took place at the Eagles Golf Club’s Forest Course.
In addition to being an avid golfer, Mr. Hunter owned and operated a small business that provided home improvement and mainte- nance services for more than 30 years in the community. He enjoyed playing pinochle and spending time with his family and friends.
Mr. Hunter is survived by four sons, 1 daughter, 7 grandchildren, 3 brothers, 1 sister, other family members and friends.
Ray Williams Funeral Home is in charge of handling arrangements.
FYI
Smith’s comments came after circulating a plan among CEOs that calls on big banks to capitalize on the financial insti- tutions that cater to Black- owned businesses and entrepreneurial ventures. Smith called the process “reparative” capital in a keynote address he gave at the Forbes 400 Summit on Philan- thropy last month. He pointed out that most Black communi- ties have been shunned by large banks and they lack the capital necessary to build busi- nesses and local institutions.
“Nowhere is structural racism more apparent than in corporate America,” Smith ex- plained. “If you think about structural racism and access to capital, 70% of African Ameri- can communities don’t even have a branch, bank of any type.”
Smith, whose net worth is estimated to be $5 billion, is the founder of Vista Equity Partners, the nation’s biggest private equity firm specializing in software transactions. He argued that big corporations should consider the 2 percent donation because of the racially exclusionary practices of various industries over many decades. He noted that the av- erage American household charitably donates 2 percent of its income annually and he be- lieves corporate America should do the same for Black groups.
Smith’s comments came after circulating a plan among CEOs that calls on big banks to capitalize on the financial insti- tutions that cater to Black-
owned businesses and entre- preneurial ventures. Smith called the process “reparative” capital in a keynote address he gave at the Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy last month. He pointed out that most Black communities have been shunned by large banks and they lack the capital necessary to build businesses and local institutions.
“Nowhere is structural racism more apparent than in corporate America,” Smith ex- plained. “If you think about structural racism and access to capital, 70% of African Ameri- can communities don’t even have a branch, bank of any type.”
Smith, whose net worth is estimated to be $5 billion, is the founder of Vista Equity Partners, the nation’s biggest private equity firm specializing in software transactions. He argued that big corporations should consider the 2 percent donation because of the racially exclusionary practices of various industries over many decades. He noted that the av- erage American household charitably donates 2 percent of its income annually and he be- lieves corporate America should do the same for Black groups.
Free Food Every Friday
Tampa Deliverance Min- istry Food Bank at 2102 E. Columbus Dr. (corner of 21st St.), Tampa, FL 33605, has “Free Food” EVERY Friday, 12 p. m. to 3 p. m.
NO ID or info needed during COVID-19.
We are an Equal Oppor- tunity Agency.
ROBERT SMITH
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