Charles William Harkins

Born on March 13,1946, Bill once described his childhood in rural Southeastern Ohio as a blend of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. His home was humble: his father Loren traveled the countryside selling gas and oil to farmers; his mother Jeanette Hall Harkins was a housewife. Bill relished the freedom and simple pleasures of country life whether roaming the hills and forests with friends, sailing a homemade raft on a pond, playing with the horses and cattle across the road, or hunting with his father. From his early days he identified with cowboys and all things Western, a passion that lasted his lifetime.

The Mid-Western values he learned at home - faith, family, hard work, honesty, integrity,

charity, and self-reliance- not only shaped him as a man, but were ones he upheld all his life. Bill was just 13 when a local contractor hired him to help build a barn. Impressed with Bill’s work ethic and maturity, the contractor continued to employ him during the summers. Upon Bill’s graduation from high school in 1965, the contractor offered him a tempting partnership in his business. But Bill was college bound, putting himself through Ohio University by waiting tables. He pledged Phi Kappa Tau fraternity and was a stand-out goalie for the OU soccer team, where he was named MVP and was an All-American nominee. In 1970 Bill graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and married the love of his life, his wife Susan, a registered nurse.

Newly employed by U.S. Steel Corporation, Bill readily accepted a transfer from Pittsburgh to Orlando to work with the team constructing the Contemporary and Polynesian Hotels at Walt Disney World. Upon completion of the hotels, Bill and Susan moved to West Palm Beach where Bill worked for 3 years designing bridges and highways for Gee and Jensen Consulting Engineers. Borrowing money from his in-laws, Bill designed and built residential duplexes in his spare time. Many an evening after work both Bill and Susan became carpenters, roofers, and painters on his projects.

Desk work and corporate life proved incompatible with Bill’s high energy, independence, and drive to own his own business. With a move back to Orlando, Bill established The Harkins Corporation (later Harkins Development Corporation) in 1974. Here began a five decades long distinguished career in residential and commercial construction, land development, and real estate. Bill was a licensed Professional Engineer, a Florida class A general contractor, and a real estate broker. He constructed hundreds of homes in such communities as Heathrow, Heathrow Woods, Alaqua, Wingfield Reserve, Winter Park, Bay Hill, and downtown Orlando. He garnered many first-place awards in the annual Parade of Homes, and was the recipient of the coveted Golden Brick Award for downtown development. He was a member of the Mid-Florida Home Builders Association and a charter member of the prestigious Master Custom Builder Council.

During these years, he made time to sit on the board of directors of three different banks. For the past twenty years Bill’s focus was on commercial construction and the management and leasing of his own properties. He specialized in office condominiums, medical centers, and light commercial buildings.

Philanthropy came naturally to Bill. He belonged to the Jaycees, was a Rotarian for over thirty years, and was a generous supporter of his church. The charity dearest to him was Easter Seals’ Camp Challenge, a facility in Sorrento, FL serving disabled and special needs children and adults. Over the years Bill single-handedly raised funds from family, friends, and business associates to improve the camp. He personally arranged the building of a new swimming pool, a remodeling of the kitchen and dining hall, and the construction of a covered, multipurpose basketball court.

Bill played as hard as he worked. A natural athlete, he loved cycling, hiking in the mountains, and working out in the gym. For many years he coached both his sons’ soccer teams, went snow skiing with friends, and relished adventure trips such as rafting down the Colorado and Salmon rivers.

But for all his exemplary and extraordinary accomplishments, his family was the center of his life. He treasured his wife, Susan; theirs was a rare marriage of true minds and hearts for 52 years of love, laughter, and devotion. Bill found it intensely gratifying that both his sons followed in his career footsteps. Matt owns a construction company, and Mark heads his own commercial real estate business. Bill had such a special relationship with his sons. It was so rewarding for him to be both parent and mentor to them, and he considered them his best friends. He held dear his daughters-in-law, Olga and Emilee, as if they were his own children and marveled what a gift they were to his family. Bill’s grandchildren, Dylan, Lauren, Kennedy, and Decker, were the sunshine of his life. They brought him constant joy and amusement, and he loved watching them grow into themselves. How often he remarked,” what an amazing family we have.” Bill’s happiest moments were those spent surrounded by his family on the deck of his Wyoming dream house, a glass of red wine in hand.

When asked once in an interview how he would like to be remembered, Bill replied, “As a good father and husband willing to donate time and resources to my family and others; as a leader in my business arena, with an unblemished reputation for honesty and integrity.”

Services will be Friday, March 4 at 10:00 am at The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, Longwood, FL with a reception to follow at Grace Hall. The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Camp Challenge at Easterseals.com/Florida.