Robert Edward Snively

Highlights

Snively worked with his father at the Lake Hamilton Cooperative, and was eventually appointed president of the company. Under Snively’s leadership the company became the first in industry history to ship one million boxes of citrus in a single year. Snively was so well liked and trusted throughout the industry that he never had contracts with any of his business partners.

Lake Hamilton Cooperative

Florida Citrus Commission

Florida Citrus Showcase

Bio

Robert Snively was born in Tampa, Florida, in 1926. At the age of 18, Snively joined the Marine Corps. Serving in Pacific Theater, Snively took part in the amphibious assault on the Island of Okinawa, a campaign eventually costing over 6,800 lives. For Snively’s heroic service he was awarded both the Silver Star and Purple Heart.

Returning to Florida, Snively attended the University of Florida, graduating in 1949 with a degree in agriculture. That same year he married Jean Klay, and their family together eventually included six children. Snively worked with his father at the Lake Hamilton Cooperative, and was eventually appointed president of the company. Under Snively’s leadership the company became the first in industry history to ship one million boxes of citrus in a single year. Snively was so well liked and trusted throughout the industry that he never had contracts with any of his business partners. He trusted them to live up to the agreements that were made and vice versa. This trust and loyalty was also present in the employees that worked for him. This allowed his company to produce three to four million cartons of citrus per year when most other shippers were averaging 500,000.

Snively also served six years on the Florida Citrus Commission, was vice chairman of the advertising and merchandising committee, and was Vice President of the Florida Citrus Showcase.