Village of Duval resident Jack Johnson has begun a one-year term as state commander of the Florida Disabled American Veterans.
Johnson was installed as commander at the state DAV’s recent annual convention in Lake Mary. He became acting commander of the 63,000-member organization last spring due to the death of Commander Leroy “Buddy” Rickman. Before that, he had served as senior vice commander since last July.
Averaging 30 hours a week of volunteer work, Johnson also was voted by the membership as disabled veteran of the year, honoring his commitment to assisting fellow veterans and promoting the mission of bettering the life of disabled American veterans and their families.
He also received the state organization’s top individual recruiting award for the fourth consecutive year. Under his leadership, The Villages DAV chapter has reached nearly 1,000 members, up from 267, over the past six years.
Earlier this year, Johnson received the 2016 Public Citizen of the Year award from the National Association of Social Workers.
A volunteer counselor who helps disabled veterans with their benefits, Johnson also raised about $37,000 for the local chapter by power washing dirty curbs in exchange for donations from homeowners. He quit that effort this spring after becoming state acting commander.
A DAV member for more than 40 years, Johnson is originally from Towanda, Pa. He and his wife, Sandee, moved to The Villages about seven years ago after living in Florida for 25 years.
He enlisted in the Army out of high school and intended to pursue a military career until he was disabled after an accident in Cambodia.
