It Comes in Threes - William A. Boutwell

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William Arthur Boutwell Jr, 93, died Wednesday in Jacksonville. He was a graduate of Lake Worth High School, Class of ’34. He had worked in the family dairy business since 1929 when it was first established until it was sold in 1965. I believe it was sold to T. G. Lee Dairies, a division of Dean Foods whose main plant is in Orlando.

The Boutwells were one of Lake Worth’s prominent families. Back when I was a kid, Boutwell Dairy was west of Boutwell Road on Congress Avenue in Palm Springs, the only milk that my Mom bought. The other brands of milk back then were MacArthur’s and Bordens. The Boutwells also owned a produce store located on Dixie Highway that sold meat, fruit and vegetables. They owned a building materials store located on South H Street.

His father, W. A. Boutwell, Sr. and the inventor of Half & Half, was very much involved in the development of Lake Worth. He became involved in our city and was the one who proposed the development of our waterfront property that is now the Lake Worth Golf Course. W. Arthur Sr. was Vice Mayor of Lake Worth and served on the School Board. One of Junior's brothers, George Boutwell, was President of the First National Bank in Lake Worth which is now vacant property belonging to Lesley Evans.

A lot of history is passing as we approach our 100th birthday in 2013.