Jose Antonio ‘Tony’ Rodriguez Meneses, 63, of Clearwater, died Thursday, February 27, 2014.



Tony was born to Alicia and the late Jorge Rodriguez, April 24, 1950, in Havana, Cuba and arrived in Miami through Operation Pedro Pan on Veteran’s Day, 1961. Tony graduated from Belle Glade High School in 1969 and attended the University of Southern Mississippi on a football scholarship, where he lettered and was a standout football player. He also was the Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion for Mississippi in 1976.
After receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Delta State University in 1975, Tony became a high school football coach at Glades Day High School in Belle Glade, Florida and later at Clearwater High School in Clearwater, Florida. Tony touched many lives as a coach. He was also an entrepreneur, first working with his father’s trucking business and then starting his own. Tony was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed horseback riding, hunting and fishing.
Tony was preceded in death by his father, Jorge Rodriguez Tabernilla and Harry and Shirley Davis. He is survived by his mother, Alicia, of Largo; siblings: Jorge (Renee), of Tampa; Rick (Joyce), of Clearwater; Rosy (Dante), Tampa; Oscar (Conchi), Miramar; Jose Ignacio, Clearwater; Henry (Marlene), El Campo, Texas; Downing Newman (Mark), Orlando; Amanda Foster (Eddie), Gainesville. In addition, Tony is survived by many nieces and nephews, who all loved him dearly
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in Tony’s memory to the DSU Football Foundation, Attn: Coach Cooley, DSU Box A-3, Cleveland, Mississippi 38733.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 8 at 12pm at National Cremation Society, 4945 East Bay Drive, Clearwater, Florida 33764.