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Tampa Snow Show's Originator Dies At 82

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This is the cheery scene organizers had in mind for the Snow Show. But things didn't turn out so rosy.

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TBO.com

Published: August 28, 2008

TAMPA - This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Great Tampa Snow Show, an event born of good intentions but one that became perhaps the most flawed in Tampa history.

The event was the brainchild of Howard Hoyt Hilton Jr. of South Tampa.

Hilton died Sunday. The mystery writer was 82.

Hilton was advertising director of Maas Brothers department stores and later led the Howard H. Hilton Advertising Agency. In 1980, his first novel was published. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, three children, five grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

The snow event Hilton spearheaded was supposed to promote downtown businesses during the Christmas season. It drew a huge crowd, but the event also resulted in 47 lawsuits, three dead deer and several sunburned seals.

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