At the helm of Belvedere Terminals Co. LLC is the founder, president, and CEO, Edwin Alonzo Cothron III, a 64-year-old resident of St. Petersburg, according to both legal documents and the company’s website.
The company was established in Delaware in 2012 and expanded to Florida in 2019, according to records from the Florida Department of State’s Division of Corporations. On the contrary, Cothron’s LinkedIn profile states that he assumed the role of CEO in 2009.
With 29 years of experience and a comprehensive knowledge of the petroleum industry and a 25-year track record in commercial real estate that includes the development of over 50 gasoline convenience and retail centers, Cothron brings a wealth of experience to his role. He is also a sixth-generation Floridian who pursued engineering and computer science studies at Santa Fe College from 1979-1981, as per company documents and information extracted from his LinkedIn profile.
His LinkedIn profile documents a series of past positions held, albeit some details remain unverified:
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President and CEO of Alonzo Cothron Investments.
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President of Dexron, a Tampa convenience store chain (1995-2001).
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Sales director of Ten Hoeve Bros., a Tampa petroleum equipment supplier.
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North Florida manager of McKenzie Petroleum in Clearwater (1990–93).
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President of Dockman (1989-91).
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Vice president of Alonzo Cothron Inc. in Islamorada.
Edwin Cothron’s Legal History
Cothron has encountered legal and financial challenges, including two bankruptcies and a conviction for bribing a public official, as indicated in court records.
Records from the 1984 bribery case have been mostly destroyed. However, it was reported by the Miami Herald that at 25 years of age, Cothron offered a $50,000 bribe to the State Attorney’s Office to dismiss cocaine trafficking charges against a friend who was on parole for a federal conviction. He was later arrested while waiting to meet with the public official again.
Belvedere Terminals has refrained from providing detailed comments, except for a statement by COO Tim Schwarz that emphasized the company’s commitment to complying with all operational rules and regulations.
Cothron’s family has played a significant role in pioneering the Upper Keys, engaging in various industries such as railroad, farming, seafood, utilities, construction, and restaurants. With a legacy tied to landmarks like the Tavernier Hotel, Islander Resort, Cheeca Lodge, A&B Lobster House, and the coral rock Matheson House.
Reynolds Cothron (1866-1928) moved from Georgia to Miami and subsequently to the Lower Keys in 1909 after a hurricane devastated his home. He was involved in farming and worked for the Florida East Coast Railway.
His son, Edwin Alonzo Cothron Sr. (1904-1992), a business owner and commercial real estate developer, married Florence Pinder, a member of another pioneering family originally from the Bahamas. His son, Edwin Alonzo Cothron Jr. (1929-1987), was the father of Edwin Alonzo Cothron III (1959).
TCPalm business reporter Ananya Tiwari and courts reporter Melissa Holsman contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Who is Belvedere Terminals fuel farm CEO and founder Edwin Cothron?
