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Munz, Among Pasco's 'Greatest Assets,' Dies At 56

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By JULIA FERRANTE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 3, 2008

DADE CITY - Bill Munz, a former top administrator who guided county growth during a critical decade, died Sunday of liver cancer. He was 56.

Munz, a Dade City resident, worked for the county for 23 years before retiring in April 2006. During his tenure, he helped consolidate the utilities department and develop the county's first comprehensive land-use plan, County Administrator John Gallagher said. Munz served as chairman of the Development Review Committee, negotiating many deals with developers building in Pasco.

"If our utilities are kind of shaky now, they are 1,000 percent better than they were then," Gallagher said. "He worked endlessly. ... We couldn't have gotten our utility system or first comprehensive plan without him. He was one of the county's greatest assets."

Munz graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.

A certified professional engineer, he joined Pasco government in March 1983 as public works and utilities director.

After rising through the ranks, he was promoted to chief assistant county administrator in 1991, a position he held for nearly a decade before taking a voluntary demotion for health reasons.

Munz often worked long hours and expected the same from his staff, Gallagher said.

"He made everyone work on weekends," Gallagher recalled. "He had a jar of peanut butter and saltine crackers and pulled those out from his desk when anyone complained they were hungry."

Growth Manager Sam Steffey said in a written statement that Munz "always had the county's best interest in mind" while revising the comprehensive plan.

Munz is survived by his wife, Barbara, the principal of Pasco Elementary School in Dade City; daughters Beth and Meg; and a son, Matt.

Matt Munz, 23, of Gainesville, remembered his father as a loving family man who loved the outdoors, an avid quail hunter and a voracious reader. Munz often wore a signature fedora-style felt hat and carried a leather bag filled with cigars, his son said.

"Most of the time he was sitting outside with a cigar reading a book," Matt Munz said. "That's pretty much where you could find dad at any given time."

Munz battled a series of illnesses before being diagnosed with liver cancer a month ago, Matt Munz said.

In 1995, he had his first bout with congestive heart failure and had a setback a few years later. In 2000, Munz suffered a stroke, which led to his voluntary demotion with the county. Three years ago, he had surgery to remove benign growths on his pancreas.

Munz talked to his son about the future before his surgery three years ago, but he was quiet about his latest illness.

"This time, I think he knew he was dying and really was ready, which has been comforting, but he also hid it from us," Matt Munz said. "I had a very good relationship with my dad. After all his sickness, I was really able to appreciate him."

A memorial service is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church, 37628 Church Ave., Dade City. A reception will follow. Hodges Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the American Cancer Society or Pasco Regional Medical Center.

Reporter Julia Ferrante can be reached at (813) 948-4220 or jferrante@tampatrib.com.

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