Wayne and Jimmie Carse Swimming and Diving Complex

Honoree

Wayne Carse

A native of Iowa, Wayne Carse has been a permanent resident of Florida since the early 1960’s. He is the President and Owner of Carse Oil Company, Inc., which develops, operates and leases convenience stores in Central Florida in addition to wholesale gasoline and fuel operations. Carse purchased Hancock Elevator in 1985 as a single country elevator. Today the company operates 11 elevator facilities throughout Western Iowa and buys, stores and sells corn and soybeans.

Carse has supported the University of Florida as a Bull Gator for more than 20 years, and serves on the Gator Booster Board of Directors. Although Carse is a graduate of Simpson College in Iowa he has been loyal Gator since the late 80’s. When the need arose for a donor to fund a swim and dive complex, Carse, who ironically doesn’t know how to swim, jumped at the opportunity. He and his wife’s $820,000 contribution resulted in the construction of the Wayne and Jimmie Carse Swimming and Diving Complex in 1998.

Their other philanthropic endeavors include contributing to the football practice field returfing project at UF, the basketball practice facility, lighting playing fields at Rollins College and Boone High School in Orlando, supporting the Winter Park YMCA, and annual contributions to the Hancock Methodist Church in Hancock, Iowa.

The Carses maintain residences in Orlando and Highlands, NC.

Facility History

The Wayne and Jimmie Carse Swimming and Diving Complex officially opened in summer of 1998, giving the University of Florida swimming and diving programs a new home. It is a state-of-the-art building that houses the UF coaches’ offices, coaches and team locker rooms, an athlete lounge, conference room and meeting area and offers access to the 50-meter pool directly behind the complex. The building is named for Wayne and Jimmie Carse of Orlando, FL whose generous gift of over $820,000 made the construction of the complex possible.