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1 of 1977 Mr. Hibiscus

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Name	Goulding, Harry Pete
Born	1908
Deceased	1992
Birthplace	Punta Gorda
Biographical Summary	Known internationally as the "Hibiscus King," Harry "Pete" Goulding, was born in Punta Gorda in 1908. His parents had moved here from North Carolina in 1895. Harry’s father, Joseph Goulding, was originally a plume hunter, but when the market for that disappeared, he became a fisherman. Pete joined him in the fishing business in the 1920s advancing to bookkeeper and eventually to vice-president of the Punta Gorda Fish Company, one of the five fishing businesses located on the railroad dock at the foot of King Street (U. S. 41 north). While fishing was how Pete earned his living, hibiscus growing and hybridizing is how he gained his fame. In the early 1930’s, Pete learned about hibiscus breeding from boatsman and fishing guide, Captain Jack McCann. Pete travelled throughout Florida gathering samples of the hibiscus varieties growing in the state at the time; from that stock, he developed almost 500 registered varieties. For more than 50 years, Pete hybridized hibiscus plants in the backyard of his cottage on Retta Esplanade, where he lived with his wife, Reba. His unique and unusual blooms earned recognition from the American Hibiscus Society. Growers around the world relied on his expertise and his blooms were awarded "Best in the World" five times. The Society’s local entity, the Harry Goulding Chapter, is named in his honor. On July 6, 1988, the city council, recognizing his accomplishments, proclaimed Harry Goulding Day, and in 2000, the council reaffirmed Punta Gorda’s status as "The City of Hibiscus". In addition to his job with the Punta Gorda Fish Company, Pete was also justice of the peace for 24 years and county coroner for 22. But to Punta Gorda and the world, he will always be "Mr. Hibiscus."
Occupation	Fisherman Punta Gorda Fishing Company Justice of the Peace County Coroner
Places of residence	Punta Gorda, Florida
Spouse	Reba
Father	Joseph Goulding
Notes	Reknown hibiscus breeder
Caption	Mr. Hibiscus

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