Charley Eugene Johns
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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. 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. But 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 by harassing civil rights advocates, revoking teachers' certificates, and firing university professors. By 1963, the committee had forced the dismissal or resignation of 39 professors and deans at the University of Florida, Florida State University and the University of South Florida.
In 1954, Johns lost his reelection bid. After leaving office on January 4, 1955, he went back to the Florida Senate, serving until 1966.
| Preceded by: Daniel T. McCarty | Governors of Florida | Succeeded by: LeRoy Collins |