Guy was a fourth generation native and true citizen of the Tampa Bay area. He devoted a major portion of his life to an extensive list of charitable and civic organizations and his public service was only surpassed by his kind and loving heart.
Funeral services for Guy will be at 11:00 am. on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at St. John’s Episcopal church at 902 S. Orleans Avenue in Tampa.
Guy was born in Tampa to Guy, Jr. and Anne Wilson King. He attended local elementary and middle schools, then went on to attend the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Though having a colorful high school career, years later he was awarded the Outstanding McCallie Alumni of the Year award, of which he was very proud.
After McCallie, he attended and received a degree from the University of Georgia College of Business Administration in 1972. After graduation is when his career in insurance began, working as an underwriter at Fireman’s Fund Insurance and then on to M.E. Wilson Company. Guy rose to be the president of M.E. Wilson, a company that began in 1920 by his maternal grandfather, M.E. (Gene) Wilson.
During his career at the agency and in his personal life, he received many prestigious awards. We have chosen a few of them to highlight in this writing but there are so many more that could have been listed.
In 2000, M. E. Wilson earned the Small Business of the Year award from the Greater Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. Three years later, Guy was chosen as the recipient of the “Outstanding Business Leader of the Year” that is also awarded by the Chamber. His favorite Chamber recognition came when he was chosen for the H. L. Culbreath Profile in Leadership honor in 2008. H.L. was a key mentor of Guy’s and hence its specialness.
In 2016 Guy was the 130th Chairman of the Greater Tampa Bay Chamber, and served with pride and conviction.
His problem solving ability and uncanny way to communicate, delegate and serve led him to receive the Key to the County from Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners for his leadership in “Steps Forward”, a heroic mission designed to support solutions for Tampa’s Homeless Community. Guy is the past chair of the YMCA Governance Board and the 1844 Council. He was the premier recipient of the “YMCA Order of the Red Triangle” award in 2009.
He enjoyed attending events at the Straz Center so, of course, he was the Chairman of their annual fundraising campaign for two years. Guy was a long time supporter and former Board Member of the Tampa Bay History Center. The Pepin Academy is honored to have had Guy as an active board member for many years. His service to that charter school is appreciated by all involved.
Most recently, Guy was awarded the coveted Citizen of the Year of the Great City of Tampa in 2019.
He was currently serving as Board Chairman on one of his most beloved philanthropic organizations – Gracepoint Wellness, which provides a vast listing of much needed services to the Tampa Bay area. As noted on their website today, Guy served for fifteen years with passion in his heart and a commitment to make Tampa a better place for all of us.
You might be saying to yourself …..‘how did Guy ever find the time to do all these things?’ well, his standard response was … “I am an insurance agent who doesn’t play golf or drink, so I have a lot of time on my hands”. That comment is a small insight into humor that we knew and loved about this wonderful person.
For all the above participation, there is one well known fact. Debbie was the prized light of his life.
He had an undying devotion and love of his wonderful wife of 35 years, Deborah (Debbie) Reineman King. Being in the presence of that wonderful couple, you could just feel and see the love they shared for each other. Debbie was at his side and his greatest fan. She and Guy co-chaired some wonderful events such as the American Heart Association, Bridge Builders Breakfast for Metropolitan Ministries, and various smaller events in the back yard of their beautiful home.
Guy and Debbie have two sons, Wilson in Atlanta and Guy IV here in the Tampa.
Guy is also survived his longtime business partner and his beloved brother Doug King (Carletta) and his wonderful sister Gene Leyden of Oregon. He enjoyed family time with the Reineman family very much. He has several nieces and nephews that will miss his love for family and good times with him at the beach and on holidays.
The family wants to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Unsung Heroes at Tampa General Hospital ICU and ER, who were incredible in their professional and caring attentiveness to Guy, Debbie and family during his brief time in his last days with them.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in honor of Guy King III and the memory of this “King of a man” to Gracepoint https://www.gracepointwellness.org/, Metropolitan Ministries https://www.metromin.org/ or the Tampa Metro YMCA http://www.tampaymca.org/
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