James Dudley Johnson (1893-1972) was born in Pensacola, Florida on June 15, 1892, the son of James M. Johnson (1866-1947) and Julia F. Marques (1867-1909). His father was a building contractor in Pensacola as well as Escambia County Legislator and city building inspector.
As for Dudley, he went on to create the "J. D. Johnson Company" in 1921 that dealt in plumbing, heating, and later air conditioning. He became involved in plumbing as early as 1910 while living at 422 West Garden Street. By 1920, he was married to Mary Margaret Johnson (1892-1963) and a machinist at a local shipyard while living at 1920 East Jackson Street. The following year he was ensconced in the plumbing field and never looked back. His first office building was at 100 East Government Street, but in 1922 he moved the business to 280 North Palafox Street. By 1932, he moved one final time to 16 West Gregory Street where most Pensacolians remember him. Many of our oldest businesses were contracted to Dudley mainly because of his reputation for dependability and honesty. He was one of the first in the city to begin installing air conditioning, something that Pensacolians can no longer do without. Some of his contracts included Harrell's Drugstore, Spearman's Brewery, Southern Bell Telephone, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, and numerous school buildings to name only a few.
As to Dudley's civic duties, he at one time was the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Municipal Advertising Board, President of the Pensacola Country Club and Chairman of the Santa Rosa Island Authority. He was also the vice president of the Racing Commission and a member of the Port Authority. For his many contributions to his community. he received the Kiwanis Club Civic Award in 1942. By the 1950's, he and Mary had moved into 1000 Fairnie Avenue where they lived out for the rest of their lives. Mary would pass away in 1963 and was buried in Bayview Cemetery where Dudley would join her in 1972.
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