The Quiet Pioneer Behind St. Pete’s Early Growth

Bird Malcolm Latham spent more than half a century helping shape St. Petersburg’s growth, arriving in 1907 to take charge of a struggling electric light plant that burned pitch-pine slabs for power. He often joked that the lights went off at 11 each night and even earlier if the moon was bright, a reminder of how unreliable service could be in those early years.

Over time he guided the system through major transitions, eventually becoming the first president of what later became Florida Power Corp. Under his leadership the company built the Bayboro plant, the Fifth Street South office building, and the Port Inglis generating plant, expanding its holdings from $50,000 to $33 million.

Latham’s life reached far beyond electricity. In 1914, he learned to fly from Tony Jannus and became the first student pilot to solo in St. Petersburg. That same summer, he barnstormed in Pennsylvania, charging $10 for a 10-minute flight. He also served the city during World War II as liaison between the Army Air Corps and St. Petersburg and remained active in civic life through the Chamber of Commerce, the Elks, and the Quiet Birds.