Obituary of William A. Bill'' Durden

Durden, William A., 73, of Spring Hill, formerly of St. Petersburg, died Monday July 16, 2001 at Bayfront Medical Center. Born in Bartow, Florida, he came here in 1951 from Nichols, Florida and moved to Spring Hill in 1985. He was the owner and operator of Southeastern Serum Research Company in St. Petersburg, with offices also in Augusta, Georgia and Savannah, Georgia. He graduated from high school in 1945 at Mulberry, Florida, received his BS degree from the University of Florida in 1950 and his masters degree in 1954. He also received a masters degree in 1951 from Emory University, Grady Memorial Hospital, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the Technical and Administrative Director of the Community Blood Bank in St. Petersburg from 1952-1967; the owner/director of the St. Petersburg Serum Research, Inc., the Southeastern Serum Research, Inc. and the Augusta Serum Research, Inc. during the time period of 1958-1972; Vice President and General Manager of St. Petersburg Serum Research, Inc. from 1972-1973, which was purchased by Damon Corporation; Technical Director of American Blood Components, Inc. a Damon Company from 1974-1975; and owner/director of St. Petersburg Serum Research, Inc., which was re-purchased from Damon Corporation in 1975 until his retirement in 1980. He was a member of the Florida Association of Blood Banks, the American Association of Blood Banks, the American Society for Medical Technologists and the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. He was a board member of the Community Blood Bank, St. Petersburg, from 1967-1983, where the last five years he served as President and Chairman and a board member of the Selective Service System, St. Petersburg, from 1962-1974, where the last five years he served as Chairman. He also started the first blood bank at Mound Park Hospital, St. Petersburg. Survivors include 2 sons, William R. ?Bill? Durden of Reno, Nevada and David P. Durden of Gainesville, Florida, a brother, Robert Durden of St. Petersburg and a grandson. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes and Cremation Tribute Center?Ninth Street Chapel, St. Petersburg.