As CalFlowers marks its 85th anniversary, the association announced that Harrison (Red) Kennicott III, chairman of Kennicott Brothers Co., has been selected for the 2026 CalFlowers Distinguished Service Award, recognizing a lifetime of leadership, innovation and service to the floral industry.

The award will be presented during the Fun 'N Sun 2026 Floral Convention in Pasadena, CA, marking the return of the honor after more than a decade. The award recognizes individuals whose dedication and contributions have strengthened CalFlowers and the floral industry.

For Kennicott, flowers have never been simply a business. They are a family legacy spanning nearly two centuries.

From ancestors who helped establish American horticulture to the founding of Kennicott Brothers in 1881, Kennicott's decades of leadership helped transform the company into one of the nation's most respected wholesale floral firms, now with 14 locations across the Midwest and Southeast.

Kennicott began working in the family business at 12, weeding peonies at The Grove and spending Saturdays at Kennicott Brothers. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1959 with honors and dual degrees in business and floriculture. After briefly attending law school and serving in the U.S. Army, he returned to Kennicott Brothers full time in the early 1960s. When his father partially retired in the 1970s, Kennicott assumed leadership, guiding the company through decades of growth, expansion and technological advancement.

Under Kennicott's leadership, the company expanded into one of the country's premier wholesale floral distributors, pioneering supermarket floral programs, embracing emerging technologies and building a culture centered on customer relationships and employee ownership.

"People and personal relationships are what the flower business is all about," he said.

Beyond business, Kennicott has served as president of the Society of American Florists, president of the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association, president of Allied Florists of Illinois and chairman of the American Floral Endowment Board. He has been inducted into the Society of American Florists Floriculture Hall of Fame and received numerous industry awards.

"Red has devoted his life not only to building an exceptional company but to strengthening the entire floral industry," said Lane DeVries, president of CalFlowers. "His leadership has always been guided by integrity, innovation, generosity and an unwavering belief in people. Few individuals have left a broader or more lasting impact on our industry."

Upon learning of the award, Kennicott reflected on the people who made his career possible.

"I've been incredibly fortunate to spend my life in an industry built around beautiful floral products and personal relationships," he said. "This recognition really belongs to the many fellow employee owners, growers, customers and family members who have shared this journey with me. The floral industry has given me far more than I could ever give back, and I remain optimistic about its future and the next generation that will continue to move it forward."

The presentation will take place Aug. 7, during the general session at Fun 'N Sun 2026 at The Langham Huntington in Pasadena.