Ted Johnson:
CLASS OF 1965
Mainland High SchoolClass of 1965
Daytona beach, FL
Ted's Story
Proud to say I was born in Daytona at Dr. Chandlers hospital on the corner of US 1 and Volusia, now the location of Walgreens I believe. My GGGrandparents Edward Archibald and Rose (Barber) McDonald were one of if not the original pioneer families of Daytona, Port Orange, Allandale and Rose Bay. They came to Florida in the early 1850s and on my Grandmothers side 1847. I tried my best to qualify my family for Florida Pioneer status but missed it by two years — you have to have lived in Florida on or before March 3, 1845. Their daughter and first born of eleven children was Mary Elizabeth McDonald Johnson my GGrandmother who owned and ran the Port Orange Palmetto Hat Factory at Dunlawton and Lafayette from 1890s to 1920s — she known locally as The Palmetto Lady. I have a small family and area blog you are welcome to check out. Since I can not use a website address you can find my blog by entering port orange ted on your favorite search site and it will pop up.
After graduating in 1965 from Mainland I joined the Air Force and served 2.5 years at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, TX in Management Analysis and then 1.5 years at Osan Air Base near Seoul, Korea as the Base Commanders Aide. I was a Staff Sergeant.
Returned to Port Orange and attended Daytona Beach Community College for two years and then transferred to the University of Florida and got a BA in Advertising Design and minored in photography.
Headed straight to Atlanta where I knew exactly no one and was hired as an Art Director for an Advertising Agency at the end of the first week and have worked all my life for Ad Agencies in Atlanta except for one side trip to Birmingham, AL to work for Steiner/Bressler Advertising for 6.5 years. Great place to work and great people. Bought and restored an old 1912 Prairie Style house on Handover Circle and after lots of work got it listed on the Jefferson County and Alabama Historical Register.
Returned to Atlanta and decided to go corporate and went to work for Primerica Financial Services as a Senior ...Expand for more
Graphic Designer. Thought I would work there a couple years and 22 years later still there. My house is on the market and the day I close is the day I drive back to Port Orange for good.
Currently on the 1965 Mainland High School 50th Reunion Committee. I'm one of five who are trying to locate classmates we only have their name. It is especially difficult with the girls and only having their maiden names but a challenge. It's a lot of work but worth it when you find some one who says thank you and is excited that someone actually took the time to look for them.
Will volunteer at the Port Orange Historical Society, the City of Port Orange Monthly History Lecture Series with Kent Donahue and help Jill Williams at Cracker Creek Canoeing with Cracker Days representing my Great Uncle Rollie Johnson who owned the 20 acres homestead now called Cracker Creek and was caretaker for the 167 acre Gamble Place for over 30 years (personally hired by Mr. James Gamble of Proctor & Gamble in late 1890s) located next door to Cracker Creek. Uncle Rollie was a real character.
I will take classes at Daytona State for fun, painting, drawing anything that interests me and yes I bought the obligatory old man metal detector but will hold off on the black socks for a while. And fish.
First priority upon returning was to find a house for the long haul. I was lucky to find one in the area I loved as a kid — we called it the high banks along Spruce Creek. At the end of Spruce Creek Road.
I am an old car lover and will join the Avanti car club. Not show cars but daily drives you can enjoy. I have had way more than my fair share of old cars but once I find my house will start the search of for a 1957 Thunderbird driver, 312, starmist blue with white porthole top and a 1983 red Avanti and my current Explorer will become my fishing truck.
Enjoyed seeing so many wonderful old friends and new ones at our 50th reunion.
My version of favorite quote is: "I've always depended on the kindness of strangers and a fast car".
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