Among his numerous industry deals was his orchestration of the secret 1965 sale of 12,400 acres in Orange and Osceola counties to the late Walt Disney. That land later became the site of Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom attraction. His development and construction companies built more than 13,000 hotel rooms in metro Orlando.

Bill Demetree and his late cousin, Jack A. Demetree, started Demetree Builders Inc. in Jacksonville in 1948 after they decided the family's wholesale grocery business was not for them. "I always like to see things get built and getting into real estate was where that could happen," Demetree told GlobeSt.com in a previous personal interview.

At 81 and retired, Demetree previously told GlobeSt.com he still "drops in" daily at the company he helped start in 1948. His daughter, Mary L. Demetree, runs the firm as president.

Bill Demetree and his daughter diversified their company's real estate holdings in the 1990s by branching into telecommunications and venture capital partnerships with emerging industries, associates who have worked closely with the Demetrees over the years tell GlobeSt.com. In the 1990s, Demetree Builders Inc. announced it had $100 million of active projects on the books.

Among his many awards and citations was his induction to the Florida Home Builders Association's Hall of Fame in 2002. Besides his real estate achievements, Demetree was well known for his many private and unannounced money donations to area charities. The private Demetree Foundation has donated millions to Central Florida civic and educational enterprises and has strongly supported the University of Florida's School for Building and Construction in Gainesville.

Little known, however, was his military performance during World War II. In a second volunteered mission, he flew B-26 bombers out of Italy in the last days of the war, according to business associates familiar with his background. He flew more than 60 missions and earned the Purple Heart.

Besides his wife, Sara, Bill Demetree is survived by sons Neil and Bill Jr. and his daughter Mary, all of Orlando; and his brother Jack C. Demetree of Jacksonville.