Mayor Rick Kriseman presented longtime city leader Rev. Watson Haynes II with a key to the city last Thursday during the Dec. 2 city council meeting. This honor has been a long time coming, given his many contributions to the political, business, and social arenas for more than 50 years.
“Now, whether through the Urban League or simply on his own, I’m hard-pressed to think of an area of our city where the voice and the work of Watson Haynes has not been heard and felt,” said Mayor Kriseman.
Haynes grew up in the Gas Plant neighborhood and went on to become the first African American elected as senior class president at St. Pete High. He earned degrees in managerial leadership, public administration, and theology. He is an alumnus of both Eckerd College and St. Petersburg College.
