Benjamin C. Bishop Jr.

Ben was born on November 30, 1931 in Greenville, S.C. He graduated from Greenville High School where his lifelong passion for playing golf and the piano began. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1953 with an Engineering degree. He was awarded a full NROTC scholarship. At Georgia Tech, he was on the golf team and was President of his Freshman Class. He exhibited his excellent sales skills as he persuaded a burger restaurant on W Peachtree Street to give a free coke to every freshman who voted for him! He was a member of the SAE fraternity, serving as its President his senior year and the pianist for the “SAE Basement Band”.

Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy aboard the U.S.S. Columbus CA-74 which took him around the world and gave him a tremendous sense of pride for his country that continued throughout his life. He was honorably discharged in 1956 as a Lieutenant JG. He returned home to Greenville where he met his beloved wife of 55 years, Starke Hagood Bishop. As he always said, “lightning struck” the night he met her! In 1959, he graduated from Harvard Business School where he was awarded the Burlington Industries Scholarship.

His successful career in business spanned decades and took him and his family from Greenville to Atlanta, Nashville and finally to their permanent home in Jacksonville in 1972. He and his Nashville business partner at the time acquired Allen C. Ewing & Co. in Jacksonville. Serving as President and then Chairman of the Board, Ben led the company to become a leading investment banking firm serving the lucrative Florida banking market. As one of his colleagues said, “Ben was the authority for Florida bank stocks”. He also served as President of the Florida Bankers Association, President of the Timuquana Country Club and was an active member of the Rotary Club.

Ben’s love of golf led to many adventures including a round with President Gerald Ford and a hole-in-one at Gleneagles (Scotland). You could also find Ben frequently at the piano entertaining family and friends and at a Saturday game of gin rummy at Timuquana.

He is predeceased by his wife, Starke Hagood Bishop.

He is survived by his three children: Dorothy Bishop of New York City, Katharine Reeves (Quillian) of Atlanta, Ben Bishop, III (Brooke) of Ponte Vedra Beach, and grandchildren Charles Reeves (Nathalie Gerdts), Dorothy Reeves, Cord Bishop and Darby Bishop.

A private family funeral service to celebrate Ben’s life will be held.

The family will greet friends at a reception on Friday, August 20th at 10 a.m. in Leatherbury Hall at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in loving memory of Ben may be sent to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 4129 Oxford Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32210.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hgriversidefuneralhome.com for the Bishop family.