Charley Johns

Charley Eugene Johns
32nd Governor of Florida
In office September 28, 1953 – January 4, 1955
Preceded by	Daniel T. McCarty
Succeeded by	LeRoy Collins
Member of the Florida Senate
In office 1947
Personal details
Born	February 27, 1905 Starke, Florida
Died	January 23, 1990(1990-01-23) (aged 84) Gainesville, Florida
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Thelma Brinson
Profession	insurance agent, railroad conductor

Charley Eugene Johns (February 27, 1905 – January 23, 1990) was an American politician. Johns, a Baptist, served as the 32nd Governor of Florida from 1953 to 1955.

Johns was born in Starke, Florida. He worked as a railroad conductor and insurance before being elected to the State Senate as a Democrat in 1947. 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. One of the Johns most remembered initiatives during his early state Senate years was to build a new, portable electric chair to be transported by truck with an electric generator and set up in a jail or a courthouse where the convicted was sentenced.

After the death of Governor Dan McCarty on September 28, 1953, Johns became the Acting Governor under the provisions of the state constitution at that time, which provided for the state Senate President to become the Acting Governor upon the death, incapacitation, or resignation of the Governor. During his term as Acting Governor, Johns promoted highway construction, eliminating tolls on the Overseas Highway between Miami and Key West. He was also an advocate for prison reform. In 1954, Johns ran for election to a term as governor in his own right, but was defeated by LeRoy Collins. After leaving office on January 4, 1955, he returned to the Florida Senate, serving until 1966.

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