Charley Eugene Johns
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charley Eugene Johns (February 27, 1905 — January 23, 1990) was an American politician. Johns, a Baptist, served as the thirty-second governor of Florida from 1953 to 1955.
Johns was born in Starke, Florida. He worked as a railroad conductor and insurance agent before being elected to the State Senate as a Democrat in 1947 to 1966. Johns became the Senate President in April 1953, a position Markley Johns, his brother, had been elected to. Johns was a member of the "Pork Chop Gang", a group of 20 conservative legislators from North Florida who favored racial segregation and consolidated political power and money in the northern, more rural parts of the state.
After the death of Governor Dan McCarty on September 28, Johns became the acting governor under the provisions of the state constitution. During his term as acting governor, Johns promoted highway construction, eliminating tolls on the Overseas Highway between Miami and Key West. He also was an advocate for advocate of prison reform. After the end of his term, he ran for governor but was defeated by LeRoy Collins.
| LGBT and Queer studies series |
|---|
 |
|
|
| Gender · Homosexuality · Bisexuality · Transgender |
| LGBT history |
| Timeline · Gay Liberation · LGBT social movements |
| Culture |
| Community · Pride · Drag · Gay slang · Gay village · Queer theory · Religion · Symbols |
| Law |
| Marriage · Civil union · Adoption · Sodomy law |
| Categories |
Johns is most remembered for his support and chairmanship of the infamous Florida Legislative Investigation Committee, nicknamed the "Johns Committee" because of Johns' chairmanship. This committee participated in the Red Scare and Lavender scare by investigating communists, homosexuals, and civil rights advocates among the students and faculty of Florida's university system. They were responsible for revoking teachers' certificates and firing university professors. By 1963, the committee had forced the dismissal or resignation of over 100 professors and deans at the University of Florida, Florida State University and the University of South Florida. One professor attempted suicide after being investigated by the committee. The state legislature ended funding for the committee in 1964 after it released a report called Homosexuality and Citizenship in Florida, which infamously became known as the "Purple Pamphlet". Its many photographs depicting homosexual acts outraged legislators and reportedly copies of the report were being sold as pornography in New York City.
In 1954, Johns lost his reelection bid. After leaving office on January 4, 1955, he went back to the Florida Senate, serving until 1966.
In 2005, UF Today, an alumni publication of the University of Florida, included Johns in a list of 81 "outstanding" UF alumni. Johns attended UF only for a few months and did not graduate. The editor apologized for the error, and the alumni association said that including him was a mistake.
[edit] References
- Beutke, Allyson A. Behind Closed Doors: The Dark Legacy of the Johns Committee. Documentary, 2000.
- Schnur, James Anthony. Cold warriors in the hot sunshine : the Johns Committee's assault on civil liberties in Florida, 1956-1965. Master's thesis, University of South Florida, 1995.
- Stark, Bonnie. McCarthyism in Florida : Charley Johns and the Florida legislative investigation committee July. Master's thesis, University of South Florida, 1985.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Daniel T. McCarty |
Governor of Florida 1953–1955 |
Succeeded by LeRoy Collins |
| Territorial: Jackson • Duval • Eaton • Call • Reid • Call • Branch
Moseley • Brown • Broome • Perry • Milton • Allison • Marvin • Walker • Reed • Hart • Stearns • Drew • Bloxham • Perry • Fleming • Mitchell • Bloxham • Jennings • Broward • Gilchrist • Trammell • Catts • Hardee • Martin • Carlton • Sholtz • Cone • Holland • Caldwell • Warren • McCarty • Johns • Collins • Bryant • Burns • Kirk • Askew • Graham • Mixson • Martinez • Chiles • MacKay • Bush • Crist |
|
