Earl Floyd Pegram III

With quiet sorrow, we announce that former Deputy Chief (retired) of the Tampa Police Department Earl Floyd Pegram III, aged 83 of Tampa, Florida, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 27, 2026, in Tampa.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama on March 9, 1943 to United States Army Colonel (retired) Earl Floyd Pegram II of Mississippi and Francis Elizabeth “Bess” Warner of Kansas, Earl III spent his childhood with his Army family living at bases across the United States, including at the Presidio in San Francisco, in Hawaii, and in Arlington, Virginia where he excelled as a student-athlete.

After graduating high school, Earl briefly attended East Tennessee State University before enlisting in the United States Navy, where he served two tours of duty as a submariner, where deployments brought him to ports near and far.

After retirement from the Navy, Earl relocated to Tampa in the late-1960s with his wife Susan where he began a long career with the Tampa Police Department (TPD) during which he rose through the administrative ranks from a street patrol officer, to the Criminal Intelligence Unit, to working as a Major as the department reorganized and decentralized districts, finally eventually being named Deputy Chief. Most impressive during his initial years in the TPD was that Earl was able to earn a B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of South Florida all the while raising three children (with a fourth born a few years later). After more than 30 years of serving in law enforcement, Earl retired from the TPD in 2003. Those who knew him best most remember his steadfast dedication to his job, as well as his love for, and diligence and commitment to the city of Tampa as it grew in population and national stature.

Apart from his police work, Earl enjoyed building things, watching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and NASCAR, debating politics, consuming information from the annual World Almanac, along with refurbishing older cars (which brought him both love and frustration). Most recently, he took great pride in watching his granddaughter, Myra, play hockey.

Earl is survived by his sons Craig Pegram, Earl IV, daughter-in-law Claire, and granddaughter Myra of Tampa, Florida. He was tragically preceded in death by his two daughters, Robin Sue Pegram and Jodi Elizabeth Pegram. In 2021, Earl lost his wife, Susan Elizabeth Jennings Pegram, his beloved companion of 58 years. Earl is also survived by his sister, Terry Nesbitt of Cape Coral, and his brother George of Maryland, in addition to being preceded in death by his sisters Betty Zunino and Peggy Burlew.

Earl’s life was one forged by reserved values that were emphasized by his unobtrusive resolve and a quiet devotion. Earl is remembered by family as a person whose love and care was most expressed through implicit loyalty and steadfast actions, both of which were articulated more comprehensibly than words.

Visitation will be held at Blount & Curry FH-Carrollwood, 3207 W Bearss Ave, Tampa, FL 33618, US, on April 9, 2026, from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, followed by a Sharing of Memories at the same location at 10:30 am.

Military Honors will take place at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Ave, Bushnell, FL 33513, US, on April 9, 2026, from 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm.

To reflect his professional diligence and career-long commitment to the city of Tampa, the family asks that donations in his memory be made to the TPD’s RISE TAMPA Foundation to support current police officers: https://risetampa.org