[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 50 (Thursday, March 19, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       COMMEMORATING THE JOHNSON FAMILY AND THE WEEKLY CHALLENGER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 19, 2026

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Black History 
Month to commemorate the Johnson family and The Weekly Challenger, an 
unwavering pillar of journalism that has kept our Tampa Bay area 
neighbors connected with uplifting local stories. Their dedication to 
preserving the Black community shapes a legacy for generations to come.
  The Weekly Challenger origin story starts with Mr. Cleveland Johnson, 
Jr. who was born in Thomasville, Georgia, but always considered himself 
a St. Petersburg native after his family moved to the area in the early 
1930s. He attended Davis Elementary and Gibbs High School, was later 
drafted into the U.S. Army, and then met and married his wife, Ethel, 
in 1958. In the early years of their marriage, Mr. Johnson searched for 
his calling and held down many jobs to provide for his growing family. 
He found his purpose through friend and mentor, M.C. Fountain, who 
owned Fountain Printers on 16th Street South. Mr. Johnson started 
selling advertisements for Fountain's Weekly Advertiser in 1964.
  By 1967, The Weekly Challenger was founded, and Mr. Johnson led with 
the intent to reshape the way journalism was circulated in St. 
Petersburg by creating a platform to highlight and uplift the Black 
community. ``If you want to read about Black people doing something 
bad, pick up the St. Pete Times, but if you want to read about Black 
people doing something positive, pick up a Challenger.'' The Weekly 
Challenger served not only as a news source but also as a vital 
historical record, sharing stories often overlooked by mainstream 
newspapers. The Johnsons were quite a team, raised three children, 
while Ethel worked various jobs and assisted Mr. Johnson with The 
Weekly Challenger.
  Under Mr. Johnson's leadership, The Weekly Challenger grew from a 
modest publication into a robust community newspaper. The pages 
expanded to include color photography, full-page advertisements, and an 
array of stories reflecting the local Black community. With its 
continued success, demand led the newspaper to expand its distribution 
from St. Petersburg to Tampa, Clearwater, and other surrounding areas. 
It is evident that this success is rooted in the Johnson family's 
commitment and in The Weekly Challenger's praise and celebration of the 
local community.
  Mr. Johnson passed away on July 29, 2001, and his family stepped in 
to continue commemorating Black history and culture in Pinellas County. 
The Johnsons left a cherished memory of compassion, community 
empowerment, and entrepreneurship rooted in the heart of St. 
Petersburg.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the outstanding leadership and 
service for six decades that The Weekly Challenger and the Johnson 
family have shown to the community. The Weekly Challenger remains a 
cornerstone of the community and will carry forward with the narrative 
of ``making history together.''

                          ____________________