In Memoriam | July 2023
John Randolph, Jr. | BSBA ’53 | 1931-2023 | Randolph, of Burlington, Iowa, passed on June 27. While attending UF, he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and of Beta Gamma Sigma, a business honors society. After graduation, he served in the military and ran his family’s business upon returning home. He was the fourth generation of his family to head the business, and worked there until it closed in 1992, after 156 years of operation. Outside of the office, he was actively involved in his community and with his family.
Iversen M. Barbree | BAcc ’54 | 1930-2023 | Barbree, of Sarasota, Florida, passed on June 11. While studying at UF, he served as President of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, earning a spot on their Chapter Wall of Fame. He served in the military after completing school and returned home to work as an accounting manager at EMR. After working there for several years, he opened his own business, Barbree Roof Coating. As soon as he finished a day of work, he would rush home to his family and their 5 acre homestead and stay out building up the land until after dark.
Richard M. Spiers, Jr. | BSBA ’59 | 1934-2023 | Spiers, of Richmond, Virginia, passed on June 17. He used his degree from UF to launch himself into a career in the insurance industry, eventually retiring from The Royal and Utica National Insurance companies. He also taught various insurance courses at the University of Richmond and the Virginia Commonwealth University. Spiers was known for his strong work ethic, his enjoyment of sharing knowledge with others and his love for his family.
Mick W. Vision | BSBA ’60 | 1938-2023 | Vision, of Dayton, Ohio, passed on June 29. After graduating from UF, he committed to a naval career, serving both on active duty and as a reservist. He spent the rest of his career as a postal inspector in Pennsylvania and Maryland until he retired to Ohio to be near his children and grandchildren.
Wallace F. Spence | BSBA ’63 | 1941-2023 | Spence, of Niceville, Florida, passed on July 2. After graduating from UF, he went on to study law at the Birmingham School of Law. Spence inherited the operations of his father’s family fish business, most recently known as Niceville Fisherman’s Co-Op., which he owned and operated until the early 1990s. He also served as vice chairman of the board of directors for the Peoples National Bank of Niceville and as treasurer for the Fisherman for Conservation political action committee. Following the Vietnam War, he assisted in relocating 300 Vietnamese fishermen and their families, using his business knowledge and compassion to help those in need.
James “Jim” Johnston | BAcc ’77 | 1940-2023 | Johnston, of Lake City, Florida, passed on June 19. After earning his undergraduate degree from Florida State University, Johnston earned his graduate degree from UF, and enjoyed representing his loyalty to both of these rival schools. He also earned his CPA certification and spent his career working as such. When he retired, he traveled the country in a motorcoach, driving all the way from his hometown to Alaska.
William “Bill” Druyor | BSBA ’79 | 1957-2023 | Druvor, of Saint Petersburg, Florida, passed on July 3. After graduating from UF, he launched his career as a realtor, an occupation that matched well with his passion for helping others. In addition to his job, he also enjoyed fishing, caring for his many pets and spending time with his family and friends.
Charles “Chuck” Cherry, II | MBA ‘82, JD ’82 | 1956-2023 | Cherry, of Daytona Beach, Florida, passed this summer. After earning his graduate and law degrees from UF, he was admitted into the Florida Bar in 1983 and practiced law for 21 years before returning to his original career of journalism, newspaper publishing and managing a family-owned radio station. His “Straight, No Chaser” column appeared weekly for years in the Florida Courier and garnered state and national awards. Cherry also wrote and published a textbook and co-authored another book with his college roommate.
