Meet the 2025 Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Inductees
The Selection Committee for The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame has announced the selection of Dr. Charles W. Adams (deceased), formerly of Auburndale, Dr. James H. “Jim” Graham of Lake Alfred, and Daniel R. “Dan” Richey of Vero Beach as the Class of 2025 inductees. The three distinguished leaders will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on March 28 at Florida Southern College in Lakeland.
Dr. Charles W. Adams (1879-1945)
As a partner in Adams Packing Association and Growers Fertilizer Corporation, Adams was a leader in his field and impacted the citrus industry with his progressive ideas for growth. During the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s, 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 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 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 Morrow and Kirkland to form Adams Packing Association in Auburndale. They built what became one of the largest and most modern packinghouses of its time.
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 1920’s. 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.
Dr. James H. ‘Jim’ Graham
Throughout his 34-year career at the University of Florida’s Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred, Jim Graham has managed to devote his time almost equally to a world-class research program and to a citrus extension program that equals any in the world. He received his Ph.D. in Mycology/Soil Science from Oregon State University in 1980 and his B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of California in 1974, and his work on citrus pathogens and root diseases has produced management strategies that have become the industry standard in citriculture. He was very involved in trying to eliminate canker from Florida but when hurricanes made that effort impossible, he pivoted to helping the grower deal with canker, becoming the go-to researcher on canker suppression. There are few canker management practices today that were not initiated or influenced by his work, which has led to many of the recommendations on canker, greasy spot, diaprepes root weevil, phytophthora and HLB found in today’s Florida Citrus Production Guide.
Along with all the research endeavors he has headed up in Florida are the many global collaborations he has participated in with other research institutions. These joint research projects allowed greater insight into diseases that were new to the United States but which have been successfully managed for decades elsewhere. Upon his “retirement,” he continued to serve as an important resource for growers and as an advisor to the Citrus Research and Development Foundation, helping to wisely allocate funding on some of the most important issues facing the Florida citrus industry.
Graham has been very active as a teacher and mentor. Aside from regular guest lectures, he taught in the Citrus Pest Management class at CREC since its inception. He has reviewed 42 masters/doctoral candidates and served on more than 20 other student committees, while also performing as an outside examiner of several foreign dissertations. His students have garnered more than their share of research awards at numerous state and local meetings and his influence will be felt for years to come.
Daniel R. ‘Dan’ Richey
Dan Richey is a familiar and respected face throughout Florida’s citrus industry. He is best known in fresh fruit circles, but his leadership and tenacious support, promotion and defense of Florida’s citrus industry is known and felt by all. Dan has been at the helm of Riverfront Packing for decades, building it into a preeminent shipper of high-quality Indian River Grapefruit supplied into export and domestic channels. However, his service and influence extend well beyond the company he represents. Richey is currently serving as an appointed advisor to the U.S. Trade Representative and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture regarding international trade.
He has served as Chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission, President of Florida Citrus Packers, Chairman and President of the Indian River Citrus League, officer and committee member of Citrus Administrative Committee, Board Member of Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Member of the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, Congressional Task Force on Agricultural Trade, and Member and Director of Highland Exchange Service Cooperative. In addition, he has served on the Board of Directors for numerous banks (including Chairman), has been Chairman of the Board for Florida Citrus Business and Industry Self-Insurance Fund (FCBI), was a member of Leadership Florida Class IX, and was named one of the most influential Floridians by Florida Trend Magazine.
Often the “go-to” contact for countless politicians, staffers, and media outlets, Richey is knowledgeable about current issues facing Florida citrus and employs an unparalleled breadth of knowledge of production, regulatory, economics, logistics and trade.
He has helped open and build export markets, hosted and attended countless trade missions, and worked in concert with state and federal agencies to establish and improve export protocols for fresh Florida citrus (including spearheading the development of the Partners in Quality Program and serving as one of two pilot facilities). He also contributed to the development of the Citrus Health Response Program, and is as equally at home with CEOs, dignitaries, and senior elected officials as he is with packinghouse employees or harvesting crews. Richey is a trusted advocate for many, and someone the citrus industry confidently and frequently chooses to represent its interests.
In 2006, Richey was awarded the John T. Lesley Award by Florida Citrus Packers, which was a recognition by his peers that reflected his selfless longtime leadership in support of the industry, extending well beyond his personal and professional interests. In 2007, he received the Citrus Achievement Award. Again, a recognition of the breadth and scope of his influence and effective leadership on behalf of the Florida Citrus Industry.
— provided by Florida Citrus Hall of Fame