Leader of Florida Slot Machine Drive Dies

• Email
• Print
• Tweet

Fred Havenick, who spearheaded the campaign to bring slot machines to pari-mutuels in South Florida, died Wednesday of lymphoma. He was 62.

Havenick was chief executive officer of Flagler and Naples-Ft. Myers Dog Tracks for 29 years and chairman of MetroBank since 1998.

His wife, Barbara, said he spent 20 years trying to bring regulated gaming to South Florida. Although unsuccessful in the 2005 Miami-Dade countywide referendum on slot machines, Mr. Havenick planned to launch another initiative in 2007.

"It was his dream to get the slot machines in Dade County, and we are going to get them for him, but he won't be the first person to pull one, as hard as he's worked," his wife told The Associated Press. "But we're going to pull one for him."

Fred Havenick also was active in philanthropic efforts. He was a founder of Mount Sinai Hospital, a member of the Orange Bowl committee, and a member of the Merrick Society of donors at the University of Miami.

Three sons and a daughter also survive Mr. Havenick.

• Email
• Print
• Tweet