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Charles W. "Chuck" Bovay Collection, 1984-2016

 

Summary

Extent:
1 Linear Feet
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The materials in this collection reflect the subject's interest in Allied leaders of World War II, specifically Dwight D. Eisenhower and Winston S. Churchill. It includes news articles, photos & ephemera from the Eisenhower Historic Site in Gettysburg, PA, and books by and about Eisenhower and Churchill.

Biographical / historical:

Charles W. "Chuck" Bovay was born in Jackson, Michigan, on June 3, 1928, and grew up in Pensacola, Florida. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1950 with a Business degree, and he received a Commission in the United States Army on the same day.

He began his business career with Auto Owners Insurance Co. in Lansing, Michigan, and was transferred four years later to Peoria, Illinois, where he met and married Connie Jo Smith. In 1956, the company transferred the couple to Lakeland, where they made their home for more than 60 years. Chuck earned the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 1958. In 1963, he joined Lanier Upshaw, Inc. and helped it grow into one of the largest independent insurance agencies in Florida. He became agency president in 1976. During his career, he served on the board of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents (FAIA), and was Chairman in 1992. In 1998, he retired after 48 years in the insurance industry.

Chuck was very active in the Lakeland community, serving as president or chairman of the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce, Lakeland Rotary Club, Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Lakeland Regional Medical Center Foundation, Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, and Lakeland Sertoma Club (of which he was a charter member in 1957). He was a recipient of the George Jenkins Award and was a Paul Harris Fellow. Through the years, Chuck served on the board for United Way, American Red Cross, Lakeland Boy's Club, Lakeland Housing Authority, Lakeland Planning and Housing Board, Polk Community College Foundation, Lakeland Yacht & Country Club, Lakeland Symphony Orchestra (treasurer), the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland Advisory Board (which became giveWELL), and Florida House Council at Lakeland (co-treasurer). He was a member of the board and chairman of First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Florida (which became Florida First Bank). He was a founding member of the Florida Southern College Tip-Off Club (now known as the Sixth Man Club).

Chuck and Connie were loyal supporters of the men's and women's basketball programs at Florida Southern College and attended the 2015 championship game in Evansville, Indiana, when the men's team won the national championship. He was a founding member of the Sixth Man Club.

They traveled extensively and have been on every continent. He was an avid golfer and member of Lone Palm Golf Club, where he played regularly. He played on courses around the world, including St. Andrews, Scotland, where the game originated.

In 1956, Chuck and Connie became members of First Presbyterian Church in Lakeland, where he has served as Deacon and Elder. A February 1, 2020 memorial service at 10 am at First Presbyterian Church is being planned by his wife to bring full circle to their life together, as they were married 65 years ago on February 5, 1955.

Additional information from https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theledger/obituary.aspx?n=charles-w-bovay-chuck&pid=194853759&fhid=3927

Acquisition information:
The precise provonance of the collection is unknown. The materials were left at the archive in early 2021, presumably from a representative of Mr. Bovay's estate.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research. Researchers must contact McKay Archives in advance for access to unprocessed born digital materials in this collection. Collection restrictions, copyright limitations, or technical complications may hinder the archive's ability to provide access to unprocessed born digital materials.

Terms of access:

This collection is owned by Florida Southern College. This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). Please inquire if you have questions -archives@flsouthern.edu.

Location of this collection:
Florida Southern College
111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr.
Lakeland
FL
33801
USA