Johnny Burroughs

John Dudley Burroughs

• School University of Florida
• High School St. Petersburg High School

• Born c. 1914 in Daphne, AL USA
• Died October 21, 1991 in St. Petersburg, FL USA

Biographical Information

Johnny Burroughs was a prominent businessman in St. Petersburg, FL who also served as the city's mayor from 1957 to 1959, and as president of its minor league baseball team, the St. Petersburg Saints of the Florida International League.

Having moved to the city as a child, he was a star athlete at St. Petersburg High School, in football, basketball and track. He then was a letterman in four sports at the University of Florida. He graduated with a business degree, then returned home to coach football at a local school, and served in the Army from 1941 to 1945, during World War II, reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

In business, he was a paving contractor, then the owner of one the largest florist businesses in the city, until the time of his death. He was active in Democratic Party politics, and in addition to his two-year term as mayor, ran again unsuccessfully in 1961. He was part-owner in addition to president of the baseball team in 1949 and 1950. On August 1, 1950 with the team in last place and its third manager that year, Jim Pruett, having quit in frustration, he suggested to his players that they elect their own manager (his background in politics must have inspired him). Their surprise near unanimous choice was recently acquired outfielder Roxie Humberson, who completed the season, doing only slightly better than his three predecessors.

He died of cancer in 1991, aged 77.

Related Sites

• Obituary from the Tampa Bay Times