Ron Florence A familiar face was missing from Saturday’s 59th annual Kleberg-Kenedy County Junior Livestock Show Auction — a face that will not be forgotten.

Business and community leader Ronald “Ron” Clarence Florence, 66, died Saturday. Florence was a major supporter of the Kleberg-Kenedy County Junior Livestock Show and Friends of FFA. He assisted every year with the junior livestock auction. A resident of Kingsville since 1945, Florence graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance from Texas A&M University in 1965.

An Army veteran, he served in Vietnam, Europe and the United States and attained the rank of captain.

Florence was a member of St. Gertrude’s Catholic Church, past president of the Kingsville Chamber of Commerce, the Kingsville Area Industrial Development Foundation, Kiwanis Club and Coastal Bend A&M Club.

He also served on the Board of Directors of Texas A&M 12th Man Foundation and Texas A&I Javelina Club, and Florence was also president of the John E. Conner Museum board. He joined the Kingsville Insurance Agency in 1970 and later opened Ron Florence Insurance Agency in March of 1992, a division of Swantner & Gordon.

Florence served on various insurance company producer advisory committees.

Funeral Mass was celebrated Tuesday at St. Gertrude’s Catholic Church. Burial with full military honors followed at Chamberlain Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to John E. Conner Museum at Texas A&M University - Kingsville, 905 West Santa Gertrudis Avenue, Kingsville, Texas 78363.