Hunter Sr.’s TEMPO leaves a proud legacy
Johnny Hunter Sr. lived anything but a simple dull life.
A lifelong resident of Newtown, Hunter went to Booker High School, joined the Air Force, started a motorcycle club, had a run-in with the law – he was later paroled with much community support – and went on to become the owner and co-publisher of TEMPO News.
Hunter passed away on May 10, and we should treasure his legacy in overseeing TEMPO News with his son, Johnny Hunter Jr.
TEMPO News is a Black-owned newspaper that is published every Thursday and available for free all across our community. For decades, TEMPO News has been a voice for the Black community in Sarasota and Manatee counties; indeed, it has been a reliable and beloved go-to source for African American residents to read about local news, social events, arts, culture and more.
Much like the journalism industry as a whole, TEMPO News has faced challenges over the years. But TEMPO News remains among the small number of Black-owned newspapers in Florida that continue to publish – and that proud record of community service is a legacy of the persistence of Johnny Hunter Sr., along with the support of numerous local supporters, partners, foundations and businesses
Clearly, Hunter will always be hailed for his relentless commitment to “getting the good news out” about the Black communities in Sarasota and Manatee counties – and his work was particularly vital and valued whenever it seemed that uplifting information about local African American individuals and organizations was being totally ignored or overlooked by other area media outlets.
But Hunter should also be remembered for his tireless civic efforts, which included serving on numerous boards, playing an influential role in the Sarasota NAACP and becoming a major advocate for health education and in the local Black community.
As a journalist and a civic figure, Johnny Hunter Sr. touched lives and made a difference. That’s a “good news” story that all of us across our community — of all races, backgrounds and beliefs — should applaud and share.
Washington Hill, MD, is a member of the Gulf Coast Medical Society and a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at CenterPlace Health and Sarasota Memorial Hospital. He can be reached at dr.washington hill@gmail.com.