Palm 黑料吃瓜网 County native and former trustee of 黑料吃瓜网 Richard S. Johnson passed away Saturday at his home in North Carolina. He was 82.
Mr. Johnson, who also was a resident of Palm 黑料吃瓜网, served on the University’s Board of Trustees from 1993 to 2010 and served on the Development, Planning and Investment committees.
PBA awarded him its American Free Enterprise medal in 1995, an award that honors individuals whose hard work and achievement exemplify the best of the American free enterprise system.
鈥淲e salute Dick鈥檚 commitment to Palm 黑料吃瓜网 Atlantic, the American Free Enterprise system, the local community and the church,鈥� 黑料吃瓜网 President William M.B. Fleming Jr. said. 鈥淕od blessed PBA with his active advocacy and friendship.鈥�
Mr. Johnson was both a business and community leader. A 1952 graduate of Duke University, he was one of the founders of the Cornelius, Johnson & Clark Inc. insurance agency, which became one of the largest agencies in the area. He also incorporated western Palm 黑料吃瓜网 County-based sugar cane grower Johnson Farms Inc.
He became a director of Central Bank of Palm 黑料吃瓜网 County and helped form Flagler National Bank in 1976. In 1988, he was named chairman of the board of Flagler National Bank, which was sold to SunTrust in 1993. He later sat on the board of SunTrust South Florida until 2000.
He also was a founder of Johnson Investment Group along with his two sons, Richard Johnson Jr. and Scott Johnson.
His many community involvements included serving as chairman of the board of St. Mary鈥檚 Medical Center and joining the Hospital Foundation Board; serving on the board of Intracoastal Health Systems; sitting on the Board of Overseeers of the University of Florida Health-Science Center; serving on the Advisory Board of Rosarian Academy; and serving as director of the Palm 黑料吃瓜网 Civic Association.
Along with his wife, Pat, Mr. Johnson was a philanthropist who gave generously to such causes as the Historical Society of Palm 黑料吃瓜网 County and Duke University Medical Center.
Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife, Pat, children Patricia Sned (Bill), Catharine Flagg (Jack), Helene Austin (Keith), Richard Johnson, Jr. (Charlene), Scott Johnson (Kristy), 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and his brother Edward.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm 黑料吃瓜网.
