District 4 Commissioner: Jerry L. Girvin
Jerry L. Girvin represents Bay County Board of County Commissioners, District 4.
Commissioner Girvin was born August 17 at Florida East Coast Hospital, St. Augustine, FL. His father, Robert, was civil engineer and part-time farmer and his mother, Jessie, was a housewife. As a young man, Commissioner Girvin traveled with his family throughout the Second World War, as his father was then a navy commander laying out air bases. At the war's end, the family settled in DeLand, Florida.
Commissioner Girvin attended schools in DeLand, graduating from high school there and moving on to Stetson University. Two years into university, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the Chief of Information Office, working out of the Pentagon. While in the Army, Commissioner Girvin married an attractive lady he met while at school, Judith Gearing. He returned to Florida briefly in 1961, then move to Ogden, Utah to work for the Browning Arms Company as assistant to the vice president for sales. While there his oldest son, Robert, was born.
In 1966 Dick Fisher, owner of Fisher-Pierce (maker of Boston Whaler boats), offered Commissioner Girvin a position in Massachusetts in the public relations department. Shortly after arriving there, he was promoted to manager of the outboard engine division charged with the manufacture and sale of the newly acquired Homelite outboard engine. While there, his oldest daughter Heather was born.
Commissioner Girvin returned to Florida when the company was sold in 1972, and he became the regional information officer with the Florida Game and Fish Commission. He spent eight years working the Everglades region in Tallahassee as deputy director of information, and finally moved to work the Panama City region as the regional officer. His youngest daughter, Lorna was born while the family lived in Tallahassee.
In 1980, Commissioner Girvin was hired by Bay County Sheriff LaVelle Pitts to oversee the jail. He subsequently served in many capacities ranging from managing the jail to personnel director, financial officer, public relations officer, chief deputy, public information officer. In Commissioner Girvin’s last position with the jail, he was division commander and responsible for training school resource deputies, victim advocacy, crime prevention, the chaplain program, internal affairs and legal affairs and retired as a major.
Commissioner Girvin is still married to Judy, a long-time teacher at Callaway Elementary School. All three children are married and live locally. Commissioner Girvin’s interests are sailing, photography and military history. He is active in the Masonic Order and is a member of the Scottish Rite. He has also served as an elder at Parkway Presbyterian Church.
