You could have stood three blocks down the street from Henry Falcon during a busy day downtown and still heard his big, booming laugh as clear as if you were three feet away. There wasn’t anything quite like it, nor was there anything as infectious.
For many in Plant City, Falcon was a living embodiment of human joy — a man who always had something to smile about and always went out of his way to make sure someone else did, too. He never met a stranger and loved to tell jokes. His upbeat attitude and willingness to go the extra mile to spread joy to others was a boon to Plant City for decades.
“I think his favorite quote was ‘Hey, buddy, how are you?’ He was a fine man, good to everybody and he helped Plant City tremendously,” Unity in the Community founder Joyce Jordan Hooke said. “I don’t think there will ever be another who cared for this community as much as Henry Falcon.”
Falcon’s life in America began in 1971 when he migrated from Cuba and later became an American citizen. He worked for 48 years at Kash n’ Karry and Sweetbay, then for Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. when the group acquired Sweetbay. In Plant City, he managed the Sweetbay/Winn-Dixie store at 205 W. Alexander St. and proved to his staff to be more than just someone’s boss, but someone willing to lend a hand no matter who needed it.
“He was a humanitarian,” Peggy Wade, a longtime coworker and friend of 28 years, said. “Our produce manager is involved in Little League baseball, so he knew whenever anything was needed for his players he could come to Henry and get what he needed for the team. Henry was right there making sure they had water and stuff. When we remodeled in 2018, we were able to sponsor his team…if there was something an associate needed financially or something happened when hurricanes hit and an associate had damage to their house, Henry made sure things were taken care of. He was just that way.”
Even customers would benefit from the kindness that defined Falcon’s store. In 2018, when Plant City resident Ralph Hough was scammed out of $4,000 and nearly lost another $4,000 while attempting to buy Google Play cards at the Winn-Dixie, Falcon and store management did more than just prevent the purchase and call police on Hough’s behalf. They stepped up and wrote Hough a $4,000 check to cover the amount he lost in his initial bank withdrawal. Falcon’s Winn-Dixie also prepares most of the food for clients of Plant City’s Meals on Wheels chapter and ensures drivers have chef-prepared meals ready to go on food pickup days. Falcon was named Store Manager of the Year for West Florida in 2015.
Falcon was heavily active in the Plant City community and “brought quality to everything he touched and did,” Steve Hurley said. Falcon, who was named Plant City’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year in 2010, served with the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, Plant City Lions Club, Plant City Housing Authority, Meals on Wheels, Boys and Girls Club of Plant City, Plant City Christmas Parade, Inc. and Unity in the Community.
“Along with our founder (Hooke) and in the tradition she started over 20 years ago, he was Unity in the Community,” Hurley said. “He embodied the spirit and giving heart that represented Unity as much as anyone on our board. He gave so much of himself and always did more than was asked of him. He often privately asked me if others had what they needed or if there was anything else he could do to help.”
He would help out in any way he could and proved to be especially good at organizing golf tournament fundraisers. Falcon was chairman of the Plant City Family YMCA’s tournament for several years and created Unity in the Community’s long-running tournament when the group needed something to keep going.
“The golf tournament was in his hands,” Hooke said. “He originated it when Unity was three years old. I had been sick and couldn’t work on it. He said we’d keep Unity alive with the golf tournament. They put it together in three months… he cleared $5,000 in that first year. He didn’t want Unity to fold.”
Falcon was happily married to wife Ana for 41 years and had two daughters and five grandchildren. He was a proud husband, father and grandfather who would do anything for his family and especially loved being “Papi” to his grandchildren, whom he spoke of often.
“Henry was the real thing — a man that was devoted to his family, friends and community,” Marion Smith said. “He was a gentle soul and generous to so many folks. Most of us will never know the extent of his giving back to others.”
Falcon passed away Jan. 18 and his funeral services were held Jan. 21 in Lakeland. Those who knew him in any capacity will never forget him, and those who served with him will always be able to look at the example he set to guide them going forward.
“I know he approached his business the same way he approached Unity,” Hurley said. “He was a servant leader in everything he did…he always made sure to give credit to others while expecting no praise coming his way. Unity will continue but will never be quite the same. We will all miss him and never forget him. Every time we think of him, we will hear that infectious laugh that always caused the whole room to burst out laughing. Henry was a friend and a mentor to so many of us.”