Tampa, Fla. – John A. Brabson, Jr. received the 2015 Parke Wright, III Award from Leadership Tampa Alumni at the group’s annual meeting on January 28. Established in 2002, the award is presented annually to a member of Leadership Tampa Alumni who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and made a significant difference in the Tampa Bay community.
Brabson spent much of his career with Peoples Gas System, Inc. He was elected Executive Vice President in 1982, President in 1985 and Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer in 1989. He served as Chairman of the Board of Lykes Bros, Inc. from September 1996 until 2001 and has been a member of that board since 1977. Lykes Bros. is a large privately owned agricultural based company headquartered in Tampa, Florida. His past board affiliations include; American Cancer Society, American Gas Association, American Gas Cooling Center (chairman 1996-97), Council of 100, Florida Land Council, Outback Steakhouse (1992-2007), Southern Gas Association (chairman 1993-94), St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation (chairman 1994-97), Tampa Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Tampa Bay Partnership (chairman 1998-99), Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, VA, Tampa Community Foundation (past chair), and United Way of Tampa Bay (chairman 1996). Brabson is currently the Chairman of the Board of Tampa General Hospital and on the board of Lykes Bros. Inc. He is a 1977 graduate of Leadership Tampa and a Leadership Tampa Alumni member. He is a graduate of Harvard Advanced Management Program and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina.