Harry Singletary believed all human beings deserved a second chance.

That might not be the attitude most associate with the head of a state prison system. But it was one of many innovations Singletary brought to his eight years as Florida's Secretary of the Department of Corrections.

Singletary died Friday from complications of Hodgkins lymphoma. He was 63.

Singletary was the first black person to head the Department of Corrections when he was appointed in 1991 by Gov. Lawton Chiles. Singletary, who spent 30 years as an administrator in the corrections systems of Florida and Illinois, was replaced in 1999 by Gov. Jeb Bush.

"Harry was a real trailblazer," said David Murrell, executive director of the Florida Police Benevolent Association. "Instead of locking people up and throwing away the key, he believed you had to give people a second chance.

"A lot of what he advocated has come to pass (in current corrections philosophy). He was probably ahead of his time."

Under Singletary, the DOC implemented 72 cost-saving measures, added 30,000 beds, increased time served from 33 percent to 75 percent of a sentence, increased collection of victim restitution and court fees and reduced escapes to an all-time low.

Singletary instituted new training programs for corrections officers and advocated for rehabilitation programs and post-prison jobs for inmates.

"Harry took over a deeply imbedded good ol' boy system and really changed things," said state Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee. "Many don't understand the legacy of Harry, but some of us did."

Current DOC Secretary Walt McNeil said Singletary is "fondly remembered (in DOC) as a 'walk-around' Secretary" who showed up in employees' offices, asked about department problems — and expected them to offer solutions.

"He was a down-home, folksy guy, who said 'If (the secretary) does the dadgum right thing, then (employees) will do the dadgum right thing,' " McNeil said. "He did not mix his words. He said what was on his mind."

After leaving DOC, Singletary spent nine years as an administrator with Leon County's Second-Chance School for drop-outs and expelled students.

Singletary was the third of four children born to a Pinellas County orange-grove worker and his wife, a maid.

Singletary was a star basketball player who spent one year at Kentucky State College, then transferred to Florida Presbyterian College (now Eckerd College) in 1965. The burly, 6-foot-3 Singletary set numerous school scoring and rebounding records, was chosen a small college All-American and was one of the first blacks to play for a previously all-white school in the South.

He earned a master's degree in social services at the University of Chicago and spent 11 years with the Illinois corrections system before joining Florida's DOC in 1979. He was DOC assistant secretary of operations for eight years before Chiles elevated him to the top spot.

He is survived by his wife of five years, Vivian Jenkins, and three adult children.

A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Timberlane Church of Christ.