Jay B Starkey Jr. was a Pasco County legend known for his dual life as a cowboy rancher and a dedicated musician. The most recent patriarch of one of the county’s oldest families, he managed the vast Anclote River Ranch spanning over 16,000 acres. After herding cattle during the day, Starkey would change into formal wear to perform with the Master Chorale and play saxophone with local quartets. His grandfather was a newspaper editor who advocated for park preservation, while his father helped break Pinellas County from Hillsborough. Starkey served on the school board in the 1970s when he championed a controversial year-round schedule to address classroom shortages during rapid county growth. His sons Trey and Frank developed the first village-style neighborhood in Pasco called Longleaf, emphasizing community and walkability. Starkey’s legacy includes the Heartwood Preserve, an eco-friendly burial site where he is now laid to rest in his cowboy attire.
Key Points:
- Jay B Starkey Jr. managed the Anclote River Ranch that spanned over 16,000 acres in Pasco County.
- He served on the Pasco school board in the 1970s and pushed for a controversial year-round school schedule.
- Starkey’s grandfather William L. Straub was the first editor of the St. Petersburg Times and advocated for downtown waterfront park preservation.
- His sons developed Longleaf, the first village-style neighborhood in Pasco County, emphasizing community and walkability.
- Starkey is buried at Heartwood Preserve, an eco-friendly burial site he was the first investor in, wearing his cowboy attire.
