New Mr. Clearwater champion of youth

Tampa resident Bill Johnson receives the title largely in recognition of his efforts on behalf of Pinellas children.

By MONIQUE FIELDS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 9, 2002

CLEARWATER -- Bill Johnson is a former business owner who gives his time and money to at-risk children. He has racked up a slew of awards and served in a myriad of volunteer positions, including assistant leader of Brownie Troop 1113.

Wait a minute. The Brownies?

He would have been the leader, he said, but it wasn't allowed.

"I had a ball," said the city's newest Mr. Clearwater.

Johnson was honored Tuesday at an annual awards luncheon of the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The honor was a surprise. But as soon as luncheon speaker Dan Andriso announced that the winner had been an assistant troop leader, Johnson knew he had been conned into thinking he was there to honor a friend.

Among his greatest accomplishments was donating his time and money to the Doorways Initiative Program for the Pinellas County Education Foundation, which provides college scholarships and mentors to low-income children.

"Bill has been the No. 1 cheerleader for the Doorways program here in Pinellas County, evidenced by the fact that he and his family sponsor 400 of 2,200 students in Pinellas County," said Rich Engwall, vice president of the Pinellas County Education Foundation.

Since 1992, Johnson, 57, who lives in Tampa, has worked on behalf of 30,000 children in Pinellas, including 40 he has sent through college. Eventually, 400 young people will attend college due to his generosity.

"He's done it for so long and sponsored so many students that he now sees the fruits of his early sponsorship," said Andriso, chairman of the selection committee. "One Doorways student recently applied to medical school. It would have never happened but for this man's efforts."

During a brief speech, Johnson said he was "absolutely overwhelmed" to be in such good company of several past winners, including philanthropist Gus Stavros, Mr. Clearwater in 1987. The award has been given since 1958 and honors an outstanding person who has significantly contributed to the welfare of the city's residents.

"I never thought I would join those ranks, particularly because I live over in Tampa," he said in an interview. "But my heart and all my activities stay in Clearwater."

Johnson lived in Clearwater for 20 years before moving to Tampa three years ago.

His wife, Mary Lou, and others say he deserves the award.

"He's an outstanding man," Stavros said. "He's done so much for Clearwater. He's done so much for children."

Johnson kidded that his wife and two daughters were "in trouble" for guarding the secret so well. "They gave me the inspiration for what I have done," he said.

The list of his accomplishments was so long, Andriso said, that it was abbreviated. Johnson sold his business, Instrument Transformers Inc., to General Electric in July 2000.

He has been a member of the board of directors of Morton Plant Mease Foundation along with the planning committee, community affairs committee and the Donald Roebling Society Council.

He has also been member of the Board of Directors for the Florida Education Foundation and a member of the District V Juvenile Justice Board. He is a member of the Pinellas County Education Foundation, is a past chairman of the foundation, and has served as chairman of the Board of the Performing Arts Center Foundation for Ruth Eckerd Hall.

Through the years, he has received an armful of awards for his dedication to the Clearwater community, especially the city's young people, including the Service to Mankind Award from the Clearwater Breakfast Sertoma Club and the 10 Who Care Award presented by WTSP, Channel 10, for community involvement.

Award winners

Here are the award winners announced at Tuesday's annual meeting of the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce:

Winner for Business of the Year with annual revenues between $100,000 and $1-million was Aude, Shand & Williams AIA. Bob Aude and Art Shand accepted the award. Finalist was PrintSource Printing and Graphics. Ray Kingsbury of PrintSource accepted the certificate.

Winner for Business of the Year with annual revenues $1-million to $5-million was EEI/Mod-Tech Industries. Sue Englander of EEI/Mod-Tech accepted the award. Finalist was Mugs N Jugs. Ibrahim Moussa accepted the certificate.

The winner for Business of the Year with annual revenues exceeding $5-million was Creative Contractors. Alan Bomstein accepted the award. The finalist was Sunbelt Software. Stu Sjouwerman of Sunbelt Software accepted the certificate.

Ambassador of the Year Award was given to Lori Bennett of Internet Junction.

Bill Johnson, a retired businessman and volunteer, was named Mr. Clearwater.

Outgoing Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce chairman Frank Murphy exchanged the gavel with incoming chairman Gary S. Gray, executive vice president and senior loan officer for First National Bank of Florida.

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