Johnny Hunter, Sr.
The publisher of Tempo News enjoyed playing games such as horseshoes, marbles, hopscotch, ping pong and baseball.
He lived in Overtown. Better housing caused a family move to north Sarasota. Hunter recalls the prominent educators who taught at Amaryllis Park and Booker Elementary Schools; also Booker High School. The teachers lived near the schools where they worked. Prominent entrepreneurs such as funeral director Jerome Stephens, electrician and plumber Charlies Jones, and Neil Humphrey, owner of Humphries Drugstore all lived in Newtown.
The visible presence of community leaders made a tremendous difference in the lives of children and their parents. Hunter says the dismantling of the community began with integration and the migration of African American residents once their economic levels changed. “People started moving out, instead of improving their own neighborhoods. I always felt we needed to improve our own neighborhoods.” After high school, the newly minted graduate enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.
After fulfilling the commitment, he returned home to work, but always dreamed of owning a business. He opened several operations. A brush with the law almost cost him everything, but a vow made in prison changed his life forever.
Oral Interview: Johnny Hunter, Sr.
