H. Gary Morse
Harold Gary Morse | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | October 29, 2014 (aged 77) |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, real estate developer |
| Known for | Co-creator of The Villages, Florida |
Harold Gary Morse (December 19, 1936 – October 29, 2014) was an American billionaire and co-creator, alongside his father Harold Schwartz, of the active adult retirement community known as The Villages, Florida.
Personal life
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Morse was the son of Mary Louise (née Lee) and Harold Schwartz, who later moved to Arizona. Following his parents' divorce, Mary Louise remarried Clifford Morse, whose last name Gary eventually adopted.
His first marriage was to Sharon Morse, who passed away in 1999. Morse and his second spouse, Renee, resided in a home within The Villages valued at more than $1 million. He fathered three children—Mark Morse, Jennifer Parr, and Tracy Morse—all actively engaged in the family enterprise, Holding Company of the Villages Ltd., which oversees the community’s development.
Preferring a low profile and minimal media exposure, Morse dedicated himself to growing The Villages into a premier retirement locale. According to his family, he favored working discreetly to improve the quality of life within the community. He maintained professional relationships with prominent figures such as former United States Surgical Corporation CEO Leon C. Hirsch. Additionally, Morse was the grandfather of actress Megan Boone.
He died on October 29, 2014.
Career
Prior to his land development ventures, Morse was employed as an advertising executive in Chicago. In 1983, he relocated to Florida to assume control of his father’s vacant land business but soon redirected efforts toward constructing residences, dining establishments, swimming pools, and golf courses. By 1986, he was selling more than 500 homes annually. The Holding Company of the Villages Ltd. reported revenues exceeding $550 million in 2011. Beyond real estate, Morse owned a bank, an insurance firm, a local newspaper, and multiple other assets, thereby exerting significant influence over much of the community’s infrastructure.
In 2008, he resolved a $40 million class-action lawsuit concerning the alleged improper use of community amenity fees. The IRS conducted an inquiry into the special tax districts associated with The Villages related to their tax-exempt bond status but concluded the investigation after all bonds were fully repaid.
Political involvement
Morse, along with his family and The Villages organization, contributed tens of thousands of dollars to campaigns for Florida Governor, Rick Scott, and played key roles in fundraising efforts for George W. Bush and Mitt Romney. He donated several hundred thousand dollars to the Republican National Committee and hosted political events aboard his 147-foot yacht named Cracker Bay. After his passing, both Scott and Senator Marco Rubio publicly recognized Morse's vision and influence on The Villages.