Ernest Franklin Headen, also known as E.F. or Jack Headen, passed away on September 28, 2018. He was born on September 26, 1940 in Greasy Creek Tennessee (Polk County) in a shack on top of a Mountain. His mother was murdered in bed when he was infant, and she covered his body with hers to save his life. He and his brother Miles grew up in poverty. As a child he had milk bone and polio, and when the doctors could not heal him, his grandmother, who was a mountain medicine woman, did.
At age 13, he left the mountains and made his way to Pensacola, Florida where he worked as a short order cook, living in the back of the restaurant. At age 16 he lied about his age using a family bible and entered into the U.S. Army. He was originally trained in special forces, only to be later disqualified for flat feet. He was trained as a radio man and medic and was an expert with guns and knives. He got out of the service in early 1960.
On a blind date on February 14th, 1960 he met his future wife, Doris Jane Kimsey. Three months later, on May 14,1960, they were married, and remained so for 54 years, until her passing on August 11, 2015.
They had three children; Ernest M. Headen, Cheryl l. Headen and David A. Headen, and was a guardian to his nephew, Jack Kimsey. He and his wife moved to Lake Wales FL (Polk County). He was a self-taught mechanic, and expert enough to be awarded his own Texaco station, which he rejected. In the mid 1960's he taught self-defense to the Polk County Sherriff’s and State Troopers.
While working on a line truck in the rain, and laying on his back in the mud, he noticed the linemen sitting in the cab of a truck smoking and playing cards. At that point, he decided he wanted that job and was going to be a lineman. He entered the apprentice program S.E.L.C.A.T, which was a four-year program, to become a journeyman lineman. He completed the program in 2 years and was immediately promoted to foreman of his own crew. He built power lines (high line and distribution), substations, power plants, etc. all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, Libya, Venezuela, Mexico and all over the United States. He was the first man in the United States to “Bare Hand” 450kv. He built the power lines along I-4 East, I-75 South, and the two power lines crossing highway 60/Adamo drive, and built the addition to the Lakeland power station, Crystal River Nuclear facility, Jacksonville, FL, Jekyll Island, Ga etc.
He Lived in Saudi Arabia 5 times, ran SALIM AL YAMI Construction (electrical division) for the entire country, building the power grid. He was the south eastern division manager for Henckels and McCoy, Dillard Smith Construction, Electric Utilities Construction just to name a few. In the west he ran the electrical division for JELCO, W. H. Kibby etc. He was the director of S.E.L.C.A.T apprentice program for a short term. He was considered one of the best in the world. He could SAG a line with the naked eye without using computers. There are many linemen, operators who owe him their careers and some cases their lives.
He became friends with George Belarus of Tarpon Springs, FL who owns the sponge docks and sponge boats, as well as the oldest dive school in North America. So... he became a hard hat diver. He was one of the original founders of The Tampa Machinery Auction, but sold out because of a disagreement. He was the director of the Brandon Jaycees in the mid 1970’s, during which time they hosted the Jimmy Dean World Championship Rodeo at the Brandon stables. He owned an antique store in YBOR City and sold many pieces to the owner of SEA WOLF’S restaurant.
Ernest was knowledgeable in multiple areas, agriculture, horticulture, etc. He was the very definition of a real man, self-made, self-taught. He owed nothing to anyone, never asked for handouts or help, and when necessary, he worked two jobs. His family always had food on the table, a nice home to live in, and clean clothes, all of which he did not have growing up. He and his brother were the first generation out of the mountains, and both were very successful by any standard. It would be impossible to list all of his accomplishments and achievements of his life time. With his passing, a vacuum has been created in this world. He will be greatly missed!!
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