Henry G. Motes, Jr. was blessed with a positive spirit and a passion for life.  He had enormous self-confidence, unbounded energy, a sparkle in his eyes, and a sharp, self deprecating sense of humor.  He loved his business, the community, and his family.  He loved his customers almost as much as they loved him.  Henry was a friend to every dishwasher, waitress, chef, bank president, and politician in Jacksonville, all in the same way.  He gave them a gift of laughter.

Henry was born in Palatka on July 17, 1918, son of Henry George Motes Sr. and Myrtle Larkin Motes.  He graduated from the College of Business Administration at the University of Florida in 1940, and was hired by Beefy Stark and brought to Jacksonville to sell for Equitable Life Insurance Company.  He was drafted into the Army in 1941, and, in his own words, "I lasted just three days because they quickly decided that I couldn't see well enough to see the enemy, much less shoot him.  But in June 1942 I got a post card from Uncle Sam that changed me from a 4F to a 1A.  After being drafted again and 90 days training, the infantry captain, the 1st sergeant, and the platoon leader decided that, if America was to win this war, they needed to get me out of the infantry.  So they put me in the Quartermaster Corp.” 

“I found out that a married officer in the Army got $30.00 extra per month, so on the 21st of March, 1942, just 2 days after I was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, I tied the knot."  Henry served 26 months in the war overseas, became a Captain, was awarded a Bronze Star Medal, and has been married to Marguerite Sherouse Motes for 68 years.

In 1952 he joined E. H. Thompson Company, a foodservice equipment dealership, became an owner, and built a national business.  In 1968 his best customer, Bill Darden of the Green Frog Restaurant in Waycross, Georgia, asked Henry to help him with a new restaurant in Florida.  Green frogs were not a big part of Florida cuisine, so they agreed that a better concept would be to name it Red Lobster.  From that beginning, Darden Corp is now the largest full-service restaurant company in the world.

Henry was a popular humorist and a motivational speaker on 'The Romance of Selling'.  He was known for his zealous evangelism for sales and for his message that "Nothing happens until somebody sells something".  But he is mostly remembered for his perfect timing and his ability to engage the laughter of a crowd.  He was a skilled master of ceremonies and became a tireless fund raiser for local charities.

Henry served on the Board of Directors of many charitable and business organizations. He was President of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, North Florida Area Chairman of the Florida Society for the Prevention of Blindness, Chairman of the Central Branch of YMCA, and President of the Jacksonville Visitors and Convention Bureau for 2 years. He was Captain of the Jacksonville Quarterback Club, President of the Sales and Marketing Executives Club, President of the Jacksonville University Council for 2 years and a member of the JU Board of Trustees for 15 years, member of Board of Directors of Jacksonville Restaurant Association for over 15 years, and a member of the Board of Directors for Riverside Hospital and the Methodist Medical Center

He was a deacon at the Riverside Baptist Church for 65 years and a member for 61 years in the Rotary Club of Jacksonville.  He was also a member of Timuquana Country Club, the River Club, and the Shriners. 

 

He left us January 18, 2012.  He is survived by his wife, Marguerite, his daughters Candy Clark and Mindy Harwood (Jim), and his son Kent Motes, all residents of in Jacksonville, Florida.  He will be laid to rest next to his first son Mark Jeffrey Motes (1948-1949).  He was blessed with 9 grandchildren, Charles Hart (Erin), Catie Lott, Jim Harwood (Brenda), William Harwood, Kate Schmidt (Robbie), Kent Motes, Jr., Alex Motes, Katrina Motes, and Randy Motes, and adored by 2 great grandchildren, Maggie and Sophie Lott.

On Saturday, January 21st, following a family graveside service, there will be a memorial service at Riverside Baptist Church at 11 a.m. and a reception following at Timuquana Country Club.  The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Riverside Baptist Church, 2650 Park St., Jacksonville, FL  32204 (www.rbcjax.com) or to the Rotary Club Foundation, 9127 Ft. Caroline Rd., Jacksonville, FL  32225 (www.jaxrotary.org ).