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Families Split Over Name Of New Plant City School

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 25, 2008

PLANT CITY - Two names have been suggested for a new high school under construction near Interstate 4 and McIntosh Road.

In a friendly rivalry, two families that used to own much of the acreage where the school is being built are agreeing to disagree on what name they would like the school to bear.

One family wants to name the high school in honor of the late O.M. Griffin, who farmed much of the property. The other wants to name it Strawberry Crest to salute the berry industry.

The Hillsborough County School Board will decide.

The family of Griffin, a longtime strawberry farmer who died in 2004, sold to the school board a little more than half the campus, 56 acres, and would like to see it named in his memory.

Former school board member Joe Newsome is heading up a group of strawberry farmers who would like it named Strawberry Crest High School. Newsome and other family members sold the school district 33 acres of the campus.

There's a push to name a planned elementary school at the same site for former school board member and state lawmaker Carl L. Carpenter Jr.

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