William Gene Yearty of J F Yearty & Sons, Jacksonville, passed away in April. Gene was considered by many one of the pest control industry's strongest and clearest voices for reason and common sense, according to Phil Busey of Turfgrass Management. Gene emerged as an industry leader and advocate after the first few fertilizer ordinance meetings with the St. John?EUR??,,????'??s County Commission. Gene was outspoken in defense of the greens industry and he had a grasp of the Florida Statutes that was unparalleled. Through research and determination, Gene made valuable contacts at the state DEP. As local battles heated up throughout the state, Gene took a concept to Mike Thomas at DEP in Tallahassee. He enlisted Mike?EUR??,,????'??s help in organizing the first best management practices meeting for the greens industry in Orlando. Gene was instrumental in bringing IFAS at the University of Florida on board so the lawn care industry would have research based guidelines to follow. He was a force behind a lawsuit against St. John?EUR??,,????'??s County that stopped them from passing a fertilizer ordinance until the BMP?EUR??,,????'??s were developed. Gene also became involved with Mike Thomas and others in Tallahassee in developing the model landscape ordinance for Florida so there would be continuity within counties and a solid foundation to work from. The lawsuit with St. John?EUR??,,????'??s County was settled through negotiation and an equitable ordinance was written that satisfied all parties. According to associates, friends and family, Gene had a unique ability to work inside and outside of state and national associations to gain a consensus of support for positions of concern to the pest control and greens industries. He was described by Nick Dennis as the spark plug behind best management practices (BMPs), such as the ?EUR??,,????'??Florida Green Industries' Best Management Practices for Protection of Water Resources in Florida.?EUR??,,????'??