Longtime Southwest Florida business leader David Barton passes away
The Floridant/10296302

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Floridant -- Horizon Council founding member and the organization's first chairman, David Barton, has passed away at age 89. The longtime Southwest Florida developer and business leader had been battling an illness at his farm in Ocala.

Originally from Meriden, England, Barton worked in manufacturing in his home country. He and his wife Margaret moved to Southwest Florida in 1987.

Barton was a visionary who saw the potential for growth in Cape Coral, taking a fledgling North Cape Industrial Park and developing it into what it is today, a 92-acre manufacturing and service industry mecca that's home to over 100 businesses.

Margaret Barton said she wants people to remember her husband of 60 years as a man with strong family values and traditions, high moral character, a strong sense of community and many sizable career achievements.

Barton was instrumental in furthering economic development efforts in Lee County as a founding member of the Horizon Council in 1991. At the time, the county had several economic development organizations competing for county dollars.

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Barton and several other business leaders developed a cohesive, forward-looking plan for growth in the county that was transparent and allowed all voices to be heard.

The plan so impressed Lee County Commissioners that they voted to direct all funding to the group, and the Horizon Council became the official advisory board to the Lee County Board of Commissioners on economic development issues, also providing vision, guidance and support to the Lee County Economic Development Office (EDO) in its mission.

Barton served as chairman of the council for four years. His efforts were crucial to building the foundation for this critical public-private advisory board. He also served on the board of the Industrial Development Authority for 30 years. In addition, he was a founding member and executive director of the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association.

Guido Minaya, Horizon Foundation president and founding member of the Horizon Council praised Barton for his vision in forming the organization.

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"David really laid the groundwork for the Council. It was his meticulous focus on how we could collaborate as business organizations, as municipalities, as the county to really introduce economic development county wide that led to where we're at today," Minaya said.

Tom Hoolihan, founding member of the Horizon Council and longtime friend of Barton's, echoed Minaya's sentiments.

"David was the bridge. He brought the group together," Hoolihan said. "David said this is how it's going to be, and agreement was reached rather quickly, but you have to have boots on the ground and David did that."

Barton is survived by his wife, three children, 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held at Fuller Metz Funeral Home, 3740 Del Prado Blvd. South, Cape Coral on Friday, Feb. 21 from 4-6 p.m.