Village of Duval resident Jack Johnson was named Veteran of the Year last week at the 91st annual convention of the Florida Disabled American Veterans in Lake Mary.
It was the second consecutive year that Johnson has received the honor, which is based on service to veterans.
A volunteer counselor who helps veterans with their benefits, Johnson commits about 30 hours a week to his work. He raised nearly $40,000 for the local chapter by washing dirty curbs in exchange for donations from homeowners. And he helped one veteran receive a handicapped-equipped van through the Veteran’s Administration and gives rides to others to their clinic appointments.
Johnson served about 15 months as state DAV commander, stepping in after the death of Commander Leroy “Buddy” Rickman in April 2016.
Since his term as state commander ended a year ago, he has been moving up in the national organization, now serving as alternate Florida representative on the national DAV executive board.
The Veteran of the Year honor isn’t the first award received by Johnson for his work. He received the 2016 Public Citizen of the Year award from the National Association of Social Workers.
Johnson also was the state DAV’s top individual recruiter for six years, building The Villages chapter from 267 to more than 1,000 members. It was the fastest growing chapter in the nation.
Johnson was injured in an accident in Cambodia in the 1960s and has been a DAV member for more than 45 years. Originally from Towanda, Penn., he and his wife, Sandee, moved to The Villages nine years ago.