People-focused CEO and chairman of Lakeland fertilizer company dies

Polk County entrepreneur Jack Harrell Jr., CEO of Harrell’s, died in his home in Lakeland on July 13 after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor. Harrell was 68. He received his diagnosis six months ago.

Harrell’s, a 500-employee manufacturing company focused on fertilizer and turf maintenance chemicals, was founded by Harrell's grandparents Ormond and Lucille Harrell in Lakeland in 1941. It started as a feed store and grew to multiple locations before pivoting from retail to manufacturing in 1985 under Harrell's leadership. 

Harrell, a Lakeland native born in 1956, joined the company in 1978 after earning his business management degree from Georgia Southern, according to his official obituary. He was officially appointed CEO in 2000. He leaves a legacy of people-first business strategies, according to those who knew him best.