Charley Eugene Johns

Charley Eugene Johns ( born February 27, 1905 in Starke, Florida; † 23 January 1990) was an American politician and from 1953 to 1955 the 32th Governor of Florida.

Early years and political rise

John attended the local schools of his home and the University of Florida, but he left without a degree. He then worked as a railroad conductor, and insurance brokers. Between 1935 and 1937 John was a deputy in the House of Representatives from Florida. From 1937 to 1966 he was a member of the State Senate. In 1953, he was its president. According to the then valid constitution of the Senate President exercised the same from the office of lieutenant governor. In this capacity, John had on September 28, 1953 after the death of Governor Daniel McCarty, the Office of the Governor take over as acting. As McCarty had died in the first half of his term, the constitution provided for a new election of the Governor for the unexpired term. The date for this special election was set to fall in 1954. John ran then for this choice, but failed in the primaries of the Democratic Party. This ended his brief tenure on 4 January 1955, and the election winner LeRoy Collins ended the legislative session until January 1957. The Governor tenure from 1953 to 1957 thus saw three governors.

Governor of Florida

Due to the above situation, John was only 15 months in office of the governor. During this time, he promoted the expansion of the road and he abolished the toll on the route between Miami and Key West from. He sat down also and for prison reform.

Further CV

After being voted out John again took his seat in the state Senate, which he held until 1966. Later he was chairman of a committee investigation that sought to Florida's universities by homosexuals, communists and supporters of the civil rights movement and was doing against these investigations. In Florida, more than 100 professors and deans were fired to 1963 by this Committee. The Committee recalls Senator Joseph McCarthy and his committee for " un-American activities ." After 1966, John retired from politics. He died in 1990. Charley Johns was married to Tyhelma Brinson, with whom he had two children.