W. LeRoy Traylor OBITUARY

W. LeRoy ‘Buddy’ Traylor, Sr., 95, passed away in Orlando, FL on October 22, 2001. He was born in Norfolk, VA to Emma and Willard Timothy Traylor and was the youngest of four children, all of whom proceeded him in death. In his youth, he found his calling as a salesman by selling drinks and snacks at the Norfolk baseball park, and at age 21, he went to New Orleans to seek a career in sales. He began by selling flower seeds to large estates throughout the south and along the eastern seaboard. Later, having been transferred to the Texas Rio Grande Valley, he met Martha Elizabeth Sumners of Harlingen, TX, and on June 16, 1932, they were married in the garden of the Sumners’ home. In 1936, Mr. Traylor joined Stauffer Chemical Company as a salesman in Freeport and later Houston, TX, and in 1945, he was promoted to Vice President and General Manager of Stauffer’s southeast office which was based in Apopka, FL. He enjoyed a loyal following among his customers, and on August 12, 1952, he founded Traylor Chemical & Supply Co., Inc., which has grown to become one of the leading manufacturers and distributors of micronutrients and other ingredients to the fertilizer industry throughout the United States and a number of foreign countries. Mr. Traylor was one of the founders of Florida Technological University, now the University of Central Florida. He also founded the North Orlando Bank and was a member of the Committee of 100, The University Club and The Country Club of Orlando. As a Junior Achievement laureate, he was named a member of the Mid-Florida Business Hall of Fame and was active in an advisory capacity with Florida Hospital. He also was a co-founder of the General Douglas McArthur Memorial in Norfolk, VA. Mrs. Traylor passed away in 1971. Mr. Traylor is survived by his son, William L. Traylor, Jr., daughters, Helen T. Bates and Peggy T. Howard, all of Orlando, FL, eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Mr. Traylor was an Episcopalian. Services for Mr. Traylor will be held on Thursday, October 25th at 4:30PM from St. Lukes Cathedral, Orlando, with a private family internment to follow. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions on behalf of Mr. Traylor may be made to the Florida Hospital Foundation, Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida or any charity of your choice. Services under the direction of WOODLAWN FUNERAL HOME AND MEMORIAL PARK.