Henry Leo King, age 78, of Florence, passed away Tuesday, October 14, 2014. Henry was born in Lauderdale County, AL, on June 14, 1936, to Paul L. and Genevieve Mecke King. His grandparents were Henry A. & Minnie Augustin King of Loretto, TN, and Leo P. & Annie Zettler Mecke of St. Florian, AL. Henry was Founder and President of King Realty & Auction Co., Inc. He received a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of North Alabama and a M.B.A. degree in Economics from the University of Alabama. He was a graduate of Stonier Graduate School of Banking, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. While there he served as class President and served on the Board of Regents of the school. He was also a graduate of the National Auction Institute in Bryan, TX. He was a former instructor in the Department of Business and Economics at the University of North Alabama. He was employed by the First National Bank of Florence as a Vice President in Commercial and Real Estate Lending. In 1970, he left to devote full time to his own real estate and auction company. He was the realtor and local leasing agent in the development of Regency Square Mall. He was a partner in King Livestock Co. and owner of Henry L. King Farms. Henry was a former director of The First National Bank of Florence and of SunTrust Bank. He was a former president and director of the Florence Rotary Club and has been involved in many other civic and charitable organizations. He was a member of the Shoals Area Chamber of Commerce, the Alabama Auctioneers Association, the Muscle Shoals Board of Realtors, the State of Alabama Board of Realtors, and the National Auctioneers Association. He was elected into the Alabama Auctioneers Hall of Fame in June, 2004. He formerly served as Chairman of the University of North Alabama Presidents Cabinet and the University of North Alabama Foundation Board. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Ann King Davis and Mary Frances King McCool. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Janice French King; his brother Paul L. King, Jr.; lifelong friend Charles Anderson; and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Thursday, October 16, from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Florence, with a Rosary to be recited at 11:00 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. Fr. Jacob Amos, O.S.B., will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery, St. Florian. Pallbearers will be Paul King, III, Harold King, Henry J. King, Eddie McCool, Matt McCool, Scott Howell, Ronnie Ray, and Terry Anderson. Spry-Williams Funeral Home is directing. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Church, 1111 E. College Street, Florence, AL 35630
Service at 11:30 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Thursday, October 16th, 2014
