Grandson of dairy pioneer dies at 88

John M. Hood helped expand Hood's Dairy, which started in Pinellas in 1908, to Bradenton before selling it in 1973.

By GREG WILLIAMS
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 4, 2002

John M. Hood, a member of a pioneer local dairy family, has died at age 88.

He died Wednesday (Oct. 2, 2002) at Westminster Asbury Towers in Bradenton.

Mr. Hood was president of Hood Industries, which owned Hood's Dairy. The family dairy was started by his grandfather about 1908 with five cows and 7 acres on 54th Avenue N and 22nd Street.

Mr. Hood and his wife, Luella, moved to Bradenton in 1953, when the dairy expanded south to Manatee County because of rising land values in Pinellas. Mrs. Hood died Sept. 21.

The dairy was sold to PET Milk in 1973.

Mr. Hood was born in Tampa. He was a member of the Cattleman's Association and a former director of the Manatee County Fair.

Survivors include two daughters, Wanda Waring, Madison, and Bonnie Best, Bradenton; a son, Gordon; a foster son, Tremain, Bradenton; three sisters, Emily Callahan, Crystal River, and Mabel Dorman and Sara Chapman, both of St. Petersburg; three brothers, Emmett M. Jr., St. Petersburg, Douglas W., Sarasota, and Lester J., Crystal River; 23 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Visitation is 1:30 p.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church, 603 11th St. W, Bradenton, with a funeral service at 2 p.m. at the church. Burial will be at Fogartyville Cemetery, 4200 3rd Ave. NW, Bradenton.

Memorial contributions can be made to the First United Methodist Church in Bradenton. Griffith-Cline Funeral Home in Bradenton is in charge of the memorial fund.

-- Information from Times files was used in this obituary.

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