Paul George Johnson

The many friends and relatives of Paul George Johnson, a 40-year resident of Wakulla County, deeply mourn his sudden passing on Nov. 4, 2022 from coronary illness on the eve of his 70th birthday. Born on Nov. 5, 1952 in Camp Lejeune, N.C. to Carl (USMC, ret.) and Ruth Johnson, Paul moved with his family to Keystone Heights, Florida. A keen interest in marine science eventually led Paul to train at the University of West Florida where he earned a bachelor’s degree in marine biology in 1975. In 1980 he received a master’s degree in marine science from the University of Alabama-Birmingham. In 1984, Paul accepted a position on the staff of Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles and moved to Wakulla County. He went on to serve three governors—Chiles, Gov. Bob Graham and Gov. Bob Martinez—as a governmental analyst and policy advisor on environmental, marine and coastal issues within the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budgeting. While working in Tallahassee, Paul became a founding member of the Organization for Artificial Reefs (OAR), which continues its nonprofit mission to build and develop permanent habitat for fish and other marine organisms throughout the Big Bend Gulf of Mexico. Incorporated in 1985, OAR has been responsible for creating more than 30 public reefs from Apalachee Bay to waters off Franklin County. Beginning in 1993, Paul served a two-year stint as director of the Center for Marine Conservation (now the Ocean Conservancy) based in St. Petersburg. There he led numerous marine conservation programs throughout the Gulf perimeter. This diverse experience inspired him to form his own marine and environmental consulting company, Paul G. Johnson & Associates, based in Wakulla, where he established close working relationships with a wide variety of governmental and nonprofit marine organizations. His clients included several prominent Florida-based marine conservative organizations, including Reef Relief based in Key West, along with numerous state and national agencies ranging from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to the New York-based Environmental Defense Fund. His expertise helped underwrite initiatives ranging from establishing marine protection areas (MPAs) in the Gulf of Mexico to combatting environmental threats from offshore drilling and in particular the 2010 BP oil spill. Locally, Paul became widely recognized for his efforts to raise both the environmental and economic profile of Wakulla County. One of his proudest achievements was in helping Tallahassee Community College establish the Wakulla Environmental Institute in 2012. The institute helps train future generations of environmental specialists and also leads one of the most successful oyster aquaculture training programs in the Southeast. A man of many passions and talents, Paul was an accomplished musician who played professionally with numerous groups in the Tallahassee area as a percussionist for many years. He also was an inveterate outdoorsman who loved gardening, landscaping, kayaking, fishing and snorkeling. Paul is survived by his wife of 27 years, Tina; son Adam (Sarah) from Ponte Vedra, Fla. and their two children, Owen and Emily; daughter Erin Cloei Jawad (Jason Peck) of Seattle, Wash. and their son Quentin; and a sister, Joy Johnson of Keystone Heights. He was predeceased by a brother, Jack (d. 2021). He also left a beloved cousin Jim Clay Pool (Tim) of Sanford, Fla. One of the abiding loves of his life was Gizmo, his beloved dog, who was his signature companion for many of his happiest years. Arrangements are being made for a celebration of Paul’s life and a notification will be forthcoming. Friends and associates of Paul’s are encouraged to donate to one of his favorite nonprofit groups, The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Skip & Trey Young are assisting the family. Family Funeral Home at Harvey Young Chapel. 850-926-5919 Familyfhc.com

Paul George Johnson

November 5, 1952 - November 4, 2022