PROFILE: Born in Hamilton, Scotland, a suburb of Glasgow on June 29, 1900. Mr. Johnston was brought to America with nine brothers and sisters when he was about 9 years old. As a young man he opened a real estate office, which closed in the depression. He died on January 27, 1977 and was survived by his widow Mrs. William H.(Anne) Johnston, two daughters Mrs. Donald W.(Juli Anne) Howell and Mrs. Mary Burnett, and his son, William H., Jr.

HISTORY: Bill Johnston entered the racing business in the early 1930’s in Chicago and was the information man at Miami Beach about 1932-1933. His talent caught his boss’s eye and he was sent to Jacksonville to open and operate the Jacksonville track. He also worked at Taunton in management about 1935-1936, and eventually became president of the Jacksonville Kennel Club, then Orange Park Kennel Club in 1946. He was also president of the Tampa track in the 1940’s.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Thanks in great part to Bill Johnston’s leadership, greyhound racing in Florida, especially in the Jacksonville area flourished and became one of the most popular spectator sports for the people in that region.