Sidney Denny Denny Herndon Jr.

87, a lifelong Tampa resident, passed away October 12th, 2014. Denny was born September 3, 1927 to Sidney and Elma Herndon. He grew up in south Tampa and graduated from Plant High School in 1945, where was an All-Conference football player and years later, was inducted into the Plant High Athletic Hall of Fame. Denny was recruited by the University of Florida and, after returning from the service in 1948, he was a part of the storied “Golden Era” Gator football teams. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity. Denny was the co-founder of Parker Banana Company, a banana importing company, where he worked until his retirement. He was a member of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, Palma Ceia Golf & C.C. and The Merrymakers. Denny was an avid fisherman, but his first love was the “orange and blue” of the Florida Gators. He was a member of the Bull Gator Club and was a supporter of University of Florida School of Business Administration. Denny was married for 56 years to his college sweetheart, Laura Parker Herndon, who preceded him in death in 2008. He is survived by three daughters, Elizabeth Herndon Ridley, Sydney Herndon Shires, both residents of Tampa and Sarah Herndon Major, a resident of Greenville, South Carolina; seven grandchildren, Maggie Ridley, Elizabeth Ridley Lifsey, Sydney Ridley, Sarah McMichael, Denny Major, Laura Major and Anne Major; and three great-grandchildren, Sarah, Sophie and Ellen Major. A celebration of Denny’s life will be held on Friday, November 7th at 10:30am at Blount and Curry Funeral Home, 605 S. MacDill Ave Tampa. Memorials may be made to Lifepath Hospice, 3010 W. Azeele St., Tampa, FL.

Arrangements under the direction of Blount & Curry FH-Macdill Chap, TAMPA, FL.