Kenneth Ernest Hyatt

Kenneth Ernest Hyatt died on October 8, 2021 in Tampa, Florida, at the age of 81. He was preced-ed in death by his parents Spurgeon E. Hyatt and Grace Lorentzson Hyatt, and brother Thomas Andrew Hyatt (Polly), all of Canton, Georgia. He is survived by his wife of 55 years Anne Rogers Hyatt, daughters Ava Hyatt Trask (Raiford) and Marian Hyatt Sbar (Jon), son Kenneth Ernest Hyatt, Jr. (Alison), grandchildren Sarah Sbar, Ramsay Trask, Hyatt Sbar, Anne DeVeaux Trask, Trey Hyatt and Grace Hyatt and brother Wayne Hyatt (Margaret Vick).

Ken was born in Canton, Georgia on August 14, 1940. He attended Canton High School and Darlington Preparatory and was a loud and proud rambling wreck from Georgia Tech with degrees in Civil Engineering (BS) and Industrial Management (MS). Ken served as a trustee of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, founded the Kenneth Hyatt Distinguished Alumni Speaking Series, and was a lifelong yellow jacket football fan.

Ken served as an officer in the US Navy from 1962 to 1965. He began his career with the Georgia Marble Company in 1976 in Atlanta, Georgia, relocating to Tampa in 1985 to serve as Chief Operating Officer for the parent company, Walter Industries. He served as Chairman and CEO of Walter Industries from mid- 1995 until his retirement in 2000.

Ken deeply loved his Tampa community where he lived for 36 years and served it in various capacities including on the boards of the Salvation Army Tampa Area Command, the Florida Aquarium, the United Way and as a Chair of the University of Tampa Board of Trustees. He was also very active in the Boy Scouts, serving as the Southern Region Metro Group President and President of the Gulf Ridge Council and ultimately receiving the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award and Silver Beaver Award for his service to the scouts.

Ken loved spending time with his family. Anne and Ken’s home of 35 years in Tampa was a gathering place throughout the years for his children, friends of his children, friends in the arts, Ken’s yellow labs and multiple stray dogs and cats from the streets of Mentone, Alabama and Tampa. Their home also was the after school gathering place for his grandchildren who all referred to Ken as “Big Daddy.” His grandchildren will always cherish his legendary holiday celebrations and after-school “pick-ups” to the house for homework and snacks while Big Daddy worked on his computer.

An Eagle Scout and an outdoorsman, Ken had a lifelong passion for hunting and fishing of all kinds. He found the same joy bass fishing in Lake Lanier, Georgia, sitting in a dove field in Pasco County or catching bream at his summer place in Mentone, Alabama as he did hunting big game internationally or salt water trophy fishing. Modest about his many accomplishments, Ken was much less so regarding his hunting and fishing. The taxidermy industry will sorely miss Ken.

A memorial service will be held on October 23rd at 10: 30 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Donations in Ken’s memory may be made to the Salvation Army at P.O. Box 76117, Tampa, Florida 33675 or to the Boy Scouts of America Tampa Bay Area Council, 13228 N. Central Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33612 or at igfn.us/f/3jih/n.