Mobile Home - Teakwood Village

O.C.
(Otha Crawford Hansford)
By Renee Ouellette
_____________________________________________________________________
Born in Stephens, Georgia in
1923, Otha, more affectionately
known as O.C., grew
up in Union Point, Georgia. As I sat
and listened to this “tall” Southern
gentleman tell me his life story, I
became captivated. His home at
693 Red Wing Circle, on the banks
of Lake Tiki, is a treasure chest of
collectables from the travels he and his late wife Betty have enjoyed over the years.
O.C. informed me that they have traveled to every one of the United States, except Hawaii,
and every Province in Canada, and he has a picture or a souvenir to prove it. He
has had several different careers over his life time, most notably that of a lineman for
the Schulman Electric Company and Southeast Utilities moving power lines across the
country. After working the “lines” O.C. looked for new opportunities and found them
in the flooring business. He owned and operated his own company, named Dustless
Floor Sanders, and proudly informed me that he installed most of the state gymnasium
floors in the late 50s, including the one in Largo High School. I joked with him about
the fact that his own house is carpeted throughout, not one hardwood plant to be seen.
After the flooring business he went into the production of hydroponic tomatoes and had
a green house on 58th Street in Clearwater. At that time he supplied vine ripe tomatoes
to all of our local Publix grocery stores.
While O.C. was working in St. Petersburg in 1950 he met his late wife Betty, and
fell in love at first sight. They were married and were blessed with four sons, twins Otha
and Owen, and Kevin and Keith. Their families and extended families have now grown
to include eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. O.C. is fortunate to have
all four of his sons living in the state of Florida. When O.C. and Betty first came into
Teakwood Village, twenty-six years ago, they absolutely loved the setting of their new
home. The most unusual feature is that they have the only porch in Teakwood Village
East with a hole in the roof for the palm tree growing right through the middle of it.
One good turn gets most of the blankets.
18 TEAKWOOD VILLAGE TIDINGS FEBRUARY, 2010 S