The title of Tax Collector doesn't usually conjure up friendly images, but Herman Meeks was a rare breed. The popular Democrat was elected to the office five times and resigned when he was 67 so he could relax and retire.
"I'm getting old," he said in 1972. "The people have been good to me. They've given me these 20 years and I've tried to look after their money, but I think it's time to give somebody else a chance."
W.H. "Herman" Meeks Jr. died Sunday of a heart attack, said his son, W.H. "Bill" Meeks III. He was 87.
Herman Meeks, who was born in Blackshear, Ga., moved to Palm Beach County in 1925 with a degree from Draughn's Business
College of Savannah, Ga., to start a job with a bank there, his son said. After just a few months, he moved farther south to Fort Lauderdale to take a job in the Broward County Tax Collector's Office, his son said.
Herman Meeks worked his way up the ranks to deputy tax collector and decided to run for office after 28 years of service, and gave an additional 20 years of his life to five successive terms as tax collector, his son said.
"He was one of the finest persons I've ever known," said his longtime friend, Bill Naugle, whose son is Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle. "He just enjoyed meeting people."
When he retired, he continued his gardening, hunting and fishing. He grew cotton, figs, peaches, orchids, tomatoes, oranges, hot peppers and beans, among other plants, his son said. "Anywhere he could plant, he did," his son said.
Several people at a time often went on fishing and frog- hunting expeditions to Meeks' stilt house in the Everglades, Bill Naugle said.
Meeks was a fixture in the Broward County Courthouse, easily recognizable by his Panama hat, his trademark, his son said. "He was there first thing in the morning. That was his life."
Besides his son, who lives in Fort Lauderdale, Meeks is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elise; a daughter, Kathleen M. Lenhardt of Panama City, Fla.; a sister, Jewell Meeks of Fort Lauderdale; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
There will be a service at 11 a.m. today at Fred Hunter's Fort Lauderdale Home.
W.H. Meeks Jr., the soft-spoken Southern gentleman who spent 20 of his 45 years in the Broward Tax Collector's Office as its chief executive, died on Sunday. He was 87 and a resident of Fort Lauderdale.
''He was a real Southern gentleman,'' said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle. ''Always the nicest person, and he knew everyone on a first-name basis.''
Born Walter Herman Meeks Jr. in Blackshear, Ga., he attended Draughn's Business College in Savannah before taking a job at a bank in Palm Beach in 1925, said his son, W.H. Meeks III of Fort Lauderdale.
Within a short time he moved farther south and accepted a job in the Broward Clerk of the Circuit Court's Office. He left after 18 months, however, to take another bank job, this time in Chicago.
He returned to Broward in February 1928 and quickly accepted a job with the county Tax Collector's staff, an office he continued to work in until his retirement in 1972.
Mr. Meeks began his political career in 1952 when he took on his boss, fellow Democrat and longtime incumbent W.O. ''Deacon'' Berryhill. Mr. Meeks' decision to run caused some rancor, and Berryhill fired Mr. Meeks from the job he had held for 25 years.
Mr. Meeks won the Democratic matchup, however, then defeated Republican Raymond Maxwell in the November election. It was the first of five four-year terms that Mr. Meeks would serve as the county's tax collector.
Mr. Meeks, already a well-known face at the courthouse, did not let his new position change his life or his demeanor. He continued to wear a Panama hat and tip it whenever he approached women. He also was easily recognizable by his tag number on his car -- 10W-1 -- the first tag issued in the county each year.
During his 45 years in the office, he saw tax collections grow from $500,000 annually to $150 million, and auto tag sales leap from 6,000 a year to 550,000. He also oversaw the modernization and computerization of the office.
Political foes referred to him as the ''Courthouse Phantom'' because of the low profile that he kept, but Mr. Meeks was also known for his honesty and integrity.
When he announced his retirement in 1972, Mr. Meeks refused to change his mind and run for the office again. Insiders said his fellow Democrats wanted him to win an assured sixth term, then quit and let his party select someone to fill the post.
During retirement, his son said, Mr. Meeks continued to enjoy three passions in life -- hunting, fishing and growing orchids in the slathouse behind his home in Rio Vista.
In addition to his son, Mr. Meeks is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elise; a daughter, Kathleen M. Lenhardt of Panama City; a sister, Jewel Meeks of Fort Lauderdale; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Fred Hunter's Fort Lauderdale Home, 718 S. Federal Highway. Services, with the Rev. Paul Cooke of Bethany Presbyterian Church officiating, are at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, also at the funeral home. Burial follows at Lauderdale Memorial Park, off State Road 84 at Southwest Fourth Avenue.
"I'm getting old," he said in 1972. "The people have been good to me. They've given me these 20 years and I've tried to look after their money, but I think it's time to give somebody else a chance."
W.H. "Herman" Meeks Jr. died Sunday of a heart attack, said his son, W.H. "Bill" Meeks III. He was 87.
Herman Meeks, who was born in Blackshear, Ga., moved to Palm Beach County in 1925 with a degree from Draughn's Business
College of Savannah, Ga., to start a job with a bank there, his son said. After just a few months, he moved farther south to Fort Lauderdale to take a job in the Broward County Tax Collector's Office, his son said.
Herman Meeks worked his way up the ranks to deputy tax collector and decided to run for office after 28 years of service, and gave an additional 20 years of his life to five successive terms as tax collector, his son said.
"He was one of the finest persons I've ever known," said his longtime friend, Bill Naugle, whose son is Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle. "He just enjoyed meeting people."
When he retired, he continued his gardening, hunting and fishing. He grew cotton, figs, peaches, orchids, tomatoes, oranges, hot peppers and beans, among other plants, his son said. "Anywhere he could plant, he did," his son said.
Several people at a time often went on fishing and frog- hunting expeditions to Meeks' stilt house in the Everglades, Bill Naugle said.
Meeks was a fixture in the Broward County Courthouse, easily recognizable by his Panama hat, his trademark, his son said. "He was there first thing in the morning. That was his life."
Besides his son, who lives in Fort Lauderdale, Meeks is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elise; a daughter, Kathleen M. Lenhardt of Panama City, Fla.; a sister, Jewell Meeks of Fort Lauderdale; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
There will be a service at 11 a.m. today at Fred Hunter's Fort Lauderdale Home.
W.H. Meeks Jr., the soft-spoken Southern gentleman who spent 20 of his 45 years in the Broward Tax Collector's Office as its chief executive, died on Sunday. He was 87 and a resident of Fort Lauderdale.
''He was a real Southern gentleman,'' said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle. ''Always the nicest person, and he knew everyone on a first-name basis.''
Born Walter Herman Meeks Jr. in Blackshear, Ga., he attended Draughn's Business College in Savannah before taking a job at a bank in Palm Beach in 1925, said his son, W.H. Meeks III of Fort Lauderdale.
Within a short time he moved farther south and accepted a job in the Broward Clerk of the Circuit Court's Office. He left after 18 months, however, to take another bank job, this time in Chicago.
He returned to Broward in February 1928 and quickly accepted a job with the county Tax Collector's staff, an office he continued to work in until his retirement in 1972.
Mr. Meeks began his political career in 1952 when he took on his boss, fellow Democrat and longtime incumbent W.O. ''Deacon'' Berryhill. Mr. Meeks' decision to run caused some rancor, and Berryhill fired Mr. Meeks from the job he had held for 25 years.
Mr. Meeks won the Democratic matchup, however, then defeated Republican Raymond Maxwell in the November election. It was the first of five four-year terms that Mr. Meeks would serve as the county's tax collector.
Mr. Meeks, already a well-known face at the courthouse, did not let his new position change his life or his demeanor. He continued to wear a Panama hat and tip it whenever he approached women. He also was easily recognizable by his tag number on his car -- 10W-1 -- the first tag issued in the county each year.
During his 45 years in the office, he saw tax collections grow from $500,000 annually to $150 million, and auto tag sales leap from 6,000 a year to 550,000. He also oversaw the modernization and computerization of the office.
Political foes referred to him as the ''Courthouse Phantom'' because of the low profile that he kept, but Mr. Meeks was also known for his honesty and integrity.
When he announced his retirement in 1972, Mr. Meeks refused to change his mind and run for the office again. Insiders said his fellow Democrats wanted him to win an assured sixth term, then quit and let his party select someone to fill the post.
During retirement, his son said, Mr. Meeks continued to enjoy three passions in life -- hunting, fishing and growing orchids in the slathouse behind his home in Rio Vista.
In addition to his son, Mr. Meeks is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elise; a daughter, Kathleen M. Lenhardt of Panama City; a sister, Jewel Meeks of Fort Lauderdale; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Fred Hunter's Fort Lauderdale Home, 718 S. Federal Highway. Services, with the Rev. Paul Cooke of Bethany Presbyterian Church officiating, are at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, also at the funeral home. Burial follows at Lauderdale Memorial Park, off State Road 84 at Southwest Fourth Avenue.
The title of Tax Collector doesn't usually conjure up friendly images, but Herman Meeks was a rare breed. The popular Democrat was elected to the office five times and resigned when he was 67 so he could relax and retire.
"I'm getting old," he said in 1972. "The people have been good to me. They've given me these 20 years and I've tried to look after their money, but I think it's time to give somebody else a chance."
W.H. "Herman" Meeks Jr. died Sunday of a heart attack, said his son, W.H. "Bill" Meeks III. He was 87.
Herman Meeks, who was born in Blackshear, Ga., moved to Palm Beach County in 1925 with a degree from Draughn's Business
College of Savannah, Ga., to start a job with a bank there, his son said. After just a few months, he moved farther south to Fort Lauderdale to take a job in the Broward County Tax Collector's Office, his son said.
Herman Meeks worked his way up the ranks to deputy tax collector and decided to run for office after 28 years of service, and gave an additional 20 years of his life to five successive terms as tax collector, his son said.
"He was one of the finest persons I've ever known," said his longtime friend, Bill Naugle, whose son is Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle. "He just enjoyed meeting people."
When he retired, he continued his gardening, hunting and fishing. He grew cotton, figs, peaches, orchids, tomatoes, oranges, hot peppers and beans, among other plants, his son said. "Anywhere he could plant, he did," his son said.
Several people at a time often went on fishing and frog- hunting expeditions to Meeks' stilt house in the Everglades, Bill Naugle said.
Meeks was a fixture in the Broward County Courthouse, easily recognizable by his Panama hat, his trademark, his son said. "He was there first thing in the morning. That was his life."
Besides his son, who lives in Fort Lauderdale, Meeks is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elise; a daughter, Kathleen M. Lenhardt of Panama City, Fla.; a sister, Jewell Meeks of Fort Lauderdale; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
There will be a service at 11 a.m. today at Fred Hunter's Fort Lauderdale Home.
W.H. Meeks Jr., the soft-spoken Southern gentleman who spent 20 of his 45 years in the Broward Tax Collector's Office as its chief executive, died on Sunday. He was 87 and a resident of Fort Lauderdale.
''He was a real Southern gentleman,'' said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle. ''Always the nicest person, and he knew everyone on a first-name basis.''
Born Walter Herman Meeks Jr. in Blackshear, Ga., he attended Draughn's Business College in Savannah before taking a job at a bank in Palm Beach in 1925, said his son, W.H. Meeks III of Fort Lauderdale.
Within a short time he moved farther south and accepted a job in the Broward Clerk of the Circuit Court's Office. He left after 18 months, however, to take another bank job, this time in Chicago.
He returned to Broward in February 1928 and quickly accepted a job with the county Tax Collector's staff, an office he continued to work in until his retirement in 1972.
Mr. Meeks began his political career in 1952 when he took on his boss, fellow Democrat and longtime incumbent W.O. ''Deacon'' Berryhill. Mr. Meeks' decision to run caused some rancor, and Berryhill fired Mr. Meeks from the job he had held for 25 years.
Mr. Meeks won the Democratic matchup, however, then defeated Republican Raymond Maxwell in the November election. It was the first of five four-year terms that Mr. Meeks would serve as the county's tax collector.
Mr. Meeks, already a well-known face at the courthouse, did not let his new position change his life or his demeanor. He continued to wear a Panama hat and tip it whenever he approached women. He also was easily recognizable by his tag number on his car -- 10W-1 -- the first tag issued in the county each year.
During his 45 years in the office, he saw tax collections grow from $500,000 annually to $150 million, and auto tag sales leap from 6,000 a year to 550,000. He also oversaw the modernization and computerization of the office.
Political foes referred to him as the ''Courthouse Phantom'' because of the low profile that he kept, but Mr. Meeks was also known for his honesty and integrity.
When he announced his retirement in 1972, Mr. Meeks refused to change his mind and run for the office again. Insiders said his fellow Democrats wanted him to win an assured sixth term, then quit and let his party select someone to fill the post.
During retirement, his son said, Mr. Meeks continued to enjoy three passions in life -- hunting, fishing and growing orchids in the slathouse behind his home in Rio Vista.
In addition to his son, Mr. Meeks is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elise; a daughter, Kathleen M. Lenhardt of Panama City; a sister, Jewel Meeks of Fort Lauderdale; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Fred Hunter's Fort Lauderdale Home, 718 S. Federal Highway. Services, with the Rev. Paul Cooke of Bethany Presbyterian Church officiating, are at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, also at the funeral home. Burial follows at Lauderdale Memorial Park, off State Road 84 at Southwest Fourth Avenue.
"I'm getting old," he said in 1972. "The people have been good to me. They've given me these 20 years and I've tried to look after their money, but I think it's time to give somebody else a chance."
W.H. "Herman" Meeks Jr. died Sunday of a heart attack, said his son, W.H. "Bill" Meeks III. He was 87.
Herman Meeks, who was born in Blackshear, Ga., moved to Palm Beach County in 1925 with a degree from Draughn's Business
College of Savannah, Ga., to start a job with a bank there, his son said. After just a few months, he moved farther south to Fort Lauderdale to take a job in the Broward County Tax Collector's Office, his son said.
Herman Meeks worked his way up the ranks to deputy tax collector and decided to run for office after 28 years of service, and gave an additional 20 years of his life to five successive terms as tax collector, his son said.
"He was one of the finest persons I've ever known," said his longtime friend, Bill Naugle, whose son is Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle. "He just enjoyed meeting people."
When he retired, he continued his gardening, hunting and fishing. He grew cotton, figs, peaches, orchids, tomatoes, oranges, hot peppers and beans, among other plants, his son said. "Anywhere he could plant, he did," his son said.
Several people at a time often went on fishing and frog- hunting expeditions to Meeks' stilt house in the Everglades, Bill Naugle said.
Meeks was a fixture in the Broward County Courthouse, easily recognizable by his Panama hat, his trademark, his son said. "He was there first thing in the morning. That was his life."
Besides his son, who lives in Fort Lauderdale, Meeks is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elise; a daughter, Kathleen M. Lenhardt of Panama City, Fla.; a sister, Jewell Meeks of Fort Lauderdale; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
There will be a service at 11 a.m. today at Fred Hunter's Fort Lauderdale Home.
W.H. Meeks Jr., the soft-spoken Southern gentleman who spent 20 of his 45 years in the Broward Tax Collector's Office as its chief executive, died on Sunday. He was 87 and a resident of Fort Lauderdale.
''He was a real Southern gentleman,'' said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle. ''Always the nicest person, and he knew everyone on a first-name basis.''
Born Walter Herman Meeks Jr. in Blackshear, Ga., he attended Draughn's Business College in Savannah before taking a job at a bank in Palm Beach in 1925, said his son, W.H. Meeks III of Fort Lauderdale.
Within a short time he moved farther south and accepted a job in the Broward Clerk of the Circuit Court's Office. He left after 18 months, however, to take another bank job, this time in Chicago.
He returned to Broward in February 1928 and quickly accepted a job with the county Tax Collector's staff, an office he continued to work in until his retirement in 1972.
Mr. Meeks began his political career in 1952 when he took on his boss, fellow Democrat and longtime incumbent W.O. ''Deacon'' Berryhill. Mr. Meeks' decision to run caused some rancor, and Berryhill fired Mr. Meeks from the job he had held for 25 years.
Mr. Meeks won the Democratic matchup, however, then defeated Republican Raymond Maxwell in the November election. It was the first of five four-year terms that Mr. Meeks would serve as the county's tax collector.
Mr. Meeks, already a well-known face at the courthouse, did not let his new position change his life or his demeanor. He continued to wear a Panama hat and tip it whenever he approached women. He also was easily recognizable by his tag number on his car -- 10W-1 -- the first tag issued in the county each year.
During his 45 years in the office, he saw tax collections grow from $500,000 annually to $150 million, and auto tag sales leap from 6,000 a year to 550,000. He also oversaw the modernization and computerization of the office.
Political foes referred to him as the ''Courthouse Phantom'' because of the low profile that he kept, but Mr. Meeks was also known for his honesty and integrity.
When he announced his retirement in 1972, Mr. Meeks refused to change his mind and run for the office again. Insiders said his fellow Democrats wanted him to win an assured sixth term, then quit and let his party select someone to fill the post.
During retirement, his son said, Mr. Meeks continued to enjoy three passions in life -- hunting, fishing and growing orchids in the slathouse behind his home in Rio Vista.
In addition to his son, Mr. Meeks is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elise; a daughter, Kathleen M. Lenhardt of Panama City; a sister, Jewel Meeks of Fort Lauderdale; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Fred Hunter's Fort Lauderdale Home, 718 S. Federal Highway. Services, with the Rev. Paul Cooke of Bethany Presbyterian Church officiating, are at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, also at the funeral home. Burial follows at Lauderdale Memorial Park, off State Road 84 at Southwest Fourth Avenue.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
