Harold Gary Morse | Fla. developer, 77

Harold Gary Morse, 77, the developer of one of the world's largest retirement communities and one of the biggest Republican donors in Florida, died Wednesday, according to the Villages Daily Sun, which received a statement from the family. No cause of death was given.

Mr. Morse took over a small mobile home park in central Florida from his father in 1983, when it had just 386 manufactured homes, a clubhouse and a few shuffleboard courts. The U.S. Census Bureau says the Villages is now one of the nation's fastest-growing communities. In March, the Villages topped the list of fastest-growing metro areas. It grew by 5.2 percent between 2012 and 2013 and now has a population just shy of 100,000 residents.

The Villages is considered "Adult Disney World" by some residents with its 600 holes of golf, more than 100 restaurants, 76 recreational facilities, and close to four million square feet of commercial space. One of the selling points: free golf for all residents.

Mr. Morse was also a prominent GOP donor who made his private jet available to the Republican Party of Florida. In 2012, the Villages gave a total of $350,000 to the state party and a political committee controlled by Florida Gov. Rick Scott.

On Thursday, an outpouring of condolences came from Scott, Sen. Marco Rubio, and the Republican Party of Florida. - AP