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published: Friday, November 06, 2009
Heart attack claims Groveland leader
Heart attack claims Groveland leader
ROXANNE BROWN
Staff Writer
GROVELAND -- Groveland officials woke up Oct. 30 to news that City Manager Ralph Hester had died overnight.
Mayor Richard Smith said he was told Hester woke up around midnight not feeling well, then collapsed on his bed shortly after.
Smith said he received a call around 2:30 a.m. from Groveland's police chief telling him Hester had died.
"It's hard to believe it really happened," Smith said. "This is a very sad day for his family and obviously for the city."
"At this time however, our thoughts are with the family."
According to records from the Groveland Fire Department, it received an EMS call at 12:42 a.m. and arrived at Hester's home four minutes later.
Lt. Noel Fetters said paramedics arrived and found Hester in cardiac arrest and began treating him immediately.
Hester was transported to South Lake Hospital where he died shortly after 2 a.m.
"We were all shocked," City Clerk Teresa Begley said, adding that on Thursday Hester was perfectly fine and worked a full day at City Hall.
"He was fine. I mean we had fun, he was laughing, he was joking, he looked good ... he was better than normal," Begley said. "A lot of us dressed up for Halloween and he even went home at lunchtime to change into an orange shirt so he could be the great pumpkin.
"He always had such a good sense of humor."
Hester was hired as Groveland's city manager in January 2006.
He was hired over more than 40 applicants after the resignation of former manager Jason Yarborough, who resigned Sept. 6, 2005.
Ralph Hester was originally from Milwaukee, Wis., where he attended the University of Wisconsin and received a Bachelors degree after serving in the United States Army.
Hester's experience included more than 35 years in city and municipal government.
In 1972, Hester and his wife Cindy moved to Florida, where they raised their six children.
A city Web site said that in his spare time, Hester enjoyed woodworking, boating, camping, reading and spending time with his three grandchildren.
"One day he hopes to travel up the Intercoastal on his own boat," it reads.
Hester's wife died in April 2006, just months after he started with the City of Groveland.
Hester is survived by his children and grandchildren.
City Council members met Monday during a regularly scheduled meeting, where they officially named Assistant City Manager and Finance Director as the city's interim city manager until a replacement is hired.
Councilors also agreed to delay discussion regarding the hiring process until after Hester's memorial service.
Hester's service is planned for 10 a.m. today at the Lake David Center in Groveland.
