Holy Cross Church
Spot Light on the Saints Among Us
201 Kipling Lane, Winter Haven, FL 33884, (863)324-4021
So we might better know each other - this page is devoted to weekly biographical sketches about our members.

p.s. You can't tell the Saints from the Sinners among us because we are both 
This is Arthur Thomas "Tom" Brandon - our oldest member - 92 years old.

Tom was born in Atlanta, GA in 1916 in his grandmother's house - which incidentally was destroyed in the Atlanta fire of 1917

His parents settled in Dublin, GA, soon moved to Palmetto, FL in 1921.

He graduated from Palmetto High School in 1934 as president of his class.

He enrolled at the University of Florida. The total cost of a year at U of FL at that time was $385 not counting room and board. He got $30 per mointh towards his food costs from a NYA federal program.

He graduated in 1938 from the Collewge of Business Administration and because times were tough and jobs scarce, his first job with the Winter Haven Citrus Growers paid 25 cents per hour.

In 1957, he was hired as manager of Waverly Growers Cooperative.

He also served on the board of what is now known at Florida's Natural.

He served as President of Highland Crate Cooperative, president of Florida Citrus Growers, President of Florida Tangerine Cooperative, Chairman of the Growers Administrative Committee and on the board of the Florida Citrus Mutual.

He was the founding president of the Highlands Exchange Service Cooperative. He was a board member  and secretary of the Florida Club.

He was board member of the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce, and a board member of the Southeast Bank.

He was foiunding president of the Episcopal Catholic Apartments.

He became a member of St Paul's Episcopal Church in 1941 and served on the Vestry there for many years. In fact, the dining hall is called Brandon Hall.

He also was Cubmaster of the Cub Pack at St. Paul's.

He is a veteran of WWll, discharged as a captain.

He has been a member of Holy Cross as Tom says, "Forever"..

He has been married to his lovely wife Peg for 63 years.
Our Vestry

 

CHARLES A. SOULE

3112 Post Oak Court

Winter Haven, Florida 33884

(863) 326-5225

chassoule@aol.com

 

 Charles Arthur Soule, CTP, “Charlie”, is a management executive, management consultant, and investor specializing in restructuring, revitalization, and growth of private companies.  He is currently serving as chairman and CEO of Blue Lake Citrus Products, LLC of Winter Haven, Florida, a specialty citrus juices operation and as chairman of Wm. G. Roe & Sons, Inc, of Winter Haven, a specialty citrus operation of fresh fruit.  He is the chairman and a founding principal of Aurora Management Partners, a leading management consulting firm based in the Southeast. 

Charlie graduated from Yale University in 1963 with a BA, majoring in economics.  He served as a line officer in the U. S. Navy in the mid 1960's specializing in communications and intelligence.  He received his MBA from Harvard in 1969, graduating with distinction.  He is certified in consulting and management practices as a certified turnaround professional by the ACTP.

 In addition to his consulting experiences, he has held management positions as CEO and/or CFO in many industries - plastics manufacturing, citrus, agriculture, limousine service, auto parts warehouse and distribution, machine parts manufacturing and assembly, gold refining and gold jewelry manufacturing, pressure vessel manufacturing, suspended access hoists, and others.

 He has been active in board memberships in churches, charities and service clubs.  He is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, has been a senior warden in a major Episcopal church, president of the standing committee of a diocese, and held leadership positions in several community organizations, national industry associations, and major health-care organizations. 

 Charlie and his wife Frankie currently reside in Winter Haven in Cypresswood.  He and Frankie between them have four children and four grandsons (one more in the hatchery) scattered from Florida to California.  He is a low handicap golfer and enjoys computers, sports and puzzles.