By Gazette Staff
TIFTON — Former Tifton Mayor Paul O. Johnson died Thursday evening at his home following a lengthy illness.
Johnson served as mayor from 1997 to 2008 and was a member of the Georgia Municipal Association’s Hall of Fame. He had been GMA District 11 president and served on the GMA board of directors .
During his tenure as mayor, the city moved toward functional consolidation with Tift County by combining fire protection, the landfill, water and sewer services and emergency management and became the first rural community in the state to provide wireless, high-speed Internet service countywide.
Prior to becoming mayor, Johnson graduated from Auburn University in 1959 and worked as a county extension agent in Opelika, Ala., until 1965, when he obtained his master of education degree in vocational education. He later served as a rural development specialist with Auburn University. In 1967, he earned his PhD in adult education from the University of Georgia and became the assistant director of the Auburn University Extension Service.
In 1974, Johnson became the district agent for 4-H in Tifton, representing 30 counties. He was nominated for the National Service Award for his work with the Extension Service.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete; read more as information becomes available.
