Vincent John Whibbs Sr. KSG (February 8, 1920 – May 30, 2006) was an American automobile dealer,

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

and businessman who served as the 54th mayor of Pensacola from 1978 to 1991. Whibbs was also very involved with many projects and groups in his hometown of

Pensacola, Florida Pensacola ( ) is a city in the Florida panhandle in the United States. It is the county seat and only incorporated city, city in Escambia County, Florida, Escambia County. The population was 54,312 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. ...

. He was invested as a knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great by

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John Paul II Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005. In his you ...

in 1995.

Personal life

Vincent John Whibbs was born on February 8, 1920, in Buffalo, New York. Whibbs had a wife, Anna, and 7 children. He died on May 26, 2006, at the age of 86.

Career

Business career

Whibbs worked for the Pontiac division of General Motors beginning in 1940. He held positions in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is a Administrative divisions of New York (state), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and county seat of Erie County, New York, Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of ...

Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 United ...

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, and

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1958, Whibbs founded Vince Whibbs Pontiac, now known as Buick GMC Pensacola.

Political career

Whibbs served on the board of directors of the Greater Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce. Vince also served as president of the Pensacola Chapter of the Navy League, Rotary Club of Pensacola Suburban West, the Fiesta of Five Flags, Junior Achievement, Pensacola Franchised Automobile Dealers Association and the United Way and Project Alert. Whibbs was elected to serve on the Pensacola City Council from Ward 1, Group 2 in 1963, and served as a councilman until 1965. In 1975, Whibbs was selected to be head of the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, and was then elected to serve as the 54th mayor of Pensacola from 1978 until his retirement in 1991. He was succeeded by Mayor pro Tempore Jerry Maygarden.

Legacy

The Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park, opened in 2012, is named in his honor. There is a statue of Whibbs at the Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park.

References