William John Howey

About

American real estate developer, citrus grower, and Republican politician. He served as mayor of the town Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida and became one of the state's most prominent citrus growers and developers. 

Before Fame

When he was only 16 years old, he became a life insurance salesman. He began developing commercial land and citrus farmland in Florida around 1917.

Trivia

He had a significant influence on American financial policy and economics. His practice of selling tracts of his citrus groves to buyers who could then lease those tracts back to Howey was deemed to be an investment contract that fell under the S.E.C's regulations by the Supreme Court because the buyers expected to profit from their purchase. The Court devised a four prong test to determine what qualified as a security called the Howey test.

Family Life

He was married to Mary Grace Hastings, and they had two children together.

Associated With

Francis Suarez serves as the mayor of Miami, Florida.