A Look Back: The life and career of Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold (2024)

1980s: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold was considered a blunt-spoken, freewheeling, barbecue-loving good old boy from the wrong side of town. [Don Ray/Times-Union archive]

1980s: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold, with the frequent support of the city's business community, pushed through numerous big projects for Downtown: the convention center, the skyway, the Southbank Riverwalk, Metropolitan Park, the Florida Theatre renovation and the Jacksonville Landing among them. [John Huber/Times-Union archive]

1970s: Jake Godbold with many friends at a Jaycees Meeting [Provided by Jake Godbold/Times-Union archive]

1980s: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold had a zeal for big gestures. None bigger than the time when, as part of his quest to get the NFL to Jacksonville, he invited Baltimore Colts owner Robert Irsay to the Gator Bowl to see just how much the city wanted a team. With just a few day's notice, some 45,000 to 50,000 people packed the stadium as Irsay landed in a helicopter on the 50-yard line. [Frank Smith/Times-Union archive]

Late 1940s: Jake Godbold in Washington, D.C., in front of a monument (He was there as a result of selling newspapers in a contest) [Provided by Jake Godbold/Times-Union archive]

Dec. 1974: Councilman Jake Godbold has his office door removed in City Hall on the 10th floor to show openess. [Times-Union archive]

Oct. 18, 1976: Earl Johnson with Mayor Jake Godbold. [Rocco Morabito/Times-Union archive]

1972: Jake Godbold [Times-Union archive]

1950s: Jake Godbold (left, 2nd row) and friends. [Provided by Jake Godbold/Times-Union archive]

1968: The first Jacksonville, Florida City Council after Consolidation in 1968. Top row (left to right): Jack Carter, Jake Godbold, Walter Dickinson, Sally B Mathis, Mayor Hans Tanzler, John Lanahan, Mary Singleton, I. M. Sulzbacher, Homer Humphrey, Earl M. Johnson, W. E. "Ted" Grissett. Bottom row (left to right): Don Maclean, Wallace Covington, Johnny Sanders, Joe Carlucci, Oscar Taylor, Earl Huntley, Bobby Moore, Walter Williams. [Provided by Matt Carlucci/Times-Union archive]

1978: Dawson McQuaig (left) talks with Jake Godbold in 1978. [Walter Stricklin/Times-Union archive]

1978: Jake Godbold, council president [Photo by Rocco Morabito/Times-Union archive]

Late 1970s: Hemming Plaza dedication with former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold. [John Miller/Times-Union archive]

Jan. 1, 1979: Jake Godbold became mayor on Jan. 1, 1979, taking over after Hans Tanzler had to step aside before his term was out because he was running for governor. As City Council president, Goldbold was next in line. [Allan Walker/Times-Union archive]

July 2, 1978: Jake Godbold [Times-Union archive]

Sept. 16, 1977: Jake Godbold. [John Huber/Times-Union archive]

July 3, 1979: Mayor Jake Godbold talks to a crowd. [John Pemberton/Times-Union archive]

Sept. 29, 1978: Jake Godbold. [Times-Union archive]

Oct. 2, 1978: Jake Godbold [Times-Union archive]

Nov. 11, 1979: Then Duval County Democratic Committee chairman Mark Brady (left) is assisted by Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold (pointing) as he takes a roll call vote on the Fair Share Amendment on the floor of the convention in St. Petersburg Nov. 11, 1979. [Bill Cranford/Times-Union archive]

1979: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold relaxes with a dog. [Don Ray/Times-Union archive]

1979: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold hangs an ornament on a Christmas tree. [Rocco Morabito/Times-Union archive]

1979: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold shakes a woman's hand. [John Pemberton/Times-Union archive]

1979: Jake Godbold embraces an unidentified poll worker. [Roger Mullis/Times-Union archive]

1979: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold talks on the phone. [Times-Union archive]

1979: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold looks out a window. [Times-Union archive]

1979: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold relaxes whle having a discussion. [Don Ray/Times-Union archive]

1979: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold watches TV. [Times-Union archive]

1979: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold often talked about the little people, the regular people who perhaps didn't have much money or power. Those were his people, from school kids to the senior citizens, the Mayor's Older Buddies, or M.O.B., whom he hosted at annual fishing tournaments. [Don Ray/Times-Union archive]

1979: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold's campaign headquarters in 1979. Godbold won a second term four years later, then stepped down in 1987 because of term limits. [Allan Walker/Times-Union archive]

1979: Jake Godbold had been on the city council for 10 years, serving as council president at the time, when he took over as mayor in 1979. [Don McCormack/Times-Union archive]

1979: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold's wife, Jean, was happy to stay mostly out of the limelight, though as her husband campaigned for mayor in 1979, she did sit down, along with their son, Ben, for a Times-Union interview. [Don Ray/Times-Union archive]

1980: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold talks to media about problems at the Gator Bowl. [Scott Robinson/Times-Union archive]

1979: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold points out Colt owner Robert Irsay to a crowd in the Gator Bowl after Irsay arrived via helicopter to the rally held in an effort to lure the NFL team to Jacksonville. [Times-Union archive]

1979: Jake Godbold does some last-minute hand-shaking and campaigning in Hemming Park. [Roger Mullis/Times-Union archive]

1980: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold speaks at a Democratic Party rally. [Beth Campbell/Times-Union archive]

Dec. 11, 1980: Courtenay Wilson talks to Mayor Jake Godbold before the dedication cermony for the Junior League's new home. [Walter Stricklin/Times-Union archive]

1980: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold gestures in illustration while making a statement to news media about how deep he has gotten himself in 1980. [Scott Robinson/Times-Union archive]

1980: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold is pictured with volunteers who were awarded for their service. Godbold was presented an award as well. [Don Ray/Times-Union archive]

March 15, 1981: Amy Moran wishes Mayor Jake Godbold a happy birthday and gives him a little advice on how to keep running his office, at least as far as senior citizens are concerned. Elizabeth Ferry listens in the background. There were approximately 1,000 people ate the FOP club to help Mayor Godbold celebrate his birthday. [Walter Stricklin/Times-Union archive]

June 1981: Mayor Jake Godbold arrives at the senior citizens center to a warm welcome. [Mark Rightmire/Times-Union archive]

Jan. 24, 1983: Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold talks to senior citizens after delivering donations to the City Nutritional Site. The Jan. 24, 1983, donation was to replace goods lost in a theft. [Frank Smith/Times-Union archive]

Dec. 1, 1982: Walter Williams Jr. (left), then chairman of the board for JEA, speaks with Mayor Jake Godbold before the commencement of the groundbreaking ceremonies for the JEA-FPL St. Johns River Power Park project. [Times-Union archive]

May 25, 1983: Jake and Jean Godbold. [Times-Union archive]

April 13, 1983: Jake Godbold tells the crowd at his campaign headquarters that he "certainly wasn't expecting 70%" and was immediately corrected by a campaign aide who tells him the correct figure is 71%. Jake and his wife, Jean, are laughing after he was corrected. [M. Jack Luedke, Times-Union archive]

June 15, 1984: Mayor Jake Godbold and press aid Martha Barrett go over notes prior to the official announcement that the Jackson tour was coming to Jacksonville. [Times-Union archive]

1983: Jake Godbold campaign manager Tom Postom and office manager C. Frank Raybon spruce up the Mayor Jake re-election headquarters on Kings Avenue in San Marco. [Ray Stafford/Times-Union archive]

July, 1984: President Ronald Reagan is greeted by then Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold during Reagan's arrival in Daytona for the Firecracker 400 race. [Times-Union archive]

Dec. 15, 1983: Jack Ubile, Then chairman of First National Bank, points out a planned hotel building to Mayor Jake Godbold and Henry Faison, owner of Faison Associates, the developer of project. [Times-Union archive]

May 1985: Paul Volcker, from left, D. Thane Cody, Mayor Jake Godbold, J.E. Davis and Gov. Bob Graham particpate in groundbreaking ceremonies for Mayo Clinic. [Will Dickey/Florida Times-Union archive]

Oct. 17, 1985: Mayor Jake Godbold (foreground, 2nd left) on the shovel at the groundbreaking ceremony for The Jacksonville Landing. [Frank Smith/Times-Union archive]

Oct. 17, 1985: Mayor Jake Godbold speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for The Jacksonville Landing. [Frank Smith/Times-Union archive]

April, 1987: Mayor Jake Godbold shows off a three-pound catfish caught by Johnnie Mae Jackson of the Twin Towers Senior site during festivities at the mayor's Eighth annual fish-a-thon at Hanna Park. [M. Jack Luedke/Times-Union archive]

Nov. 8, 1985: Mayor Jake Godbold applauds after pulling the switch to light the Riverwalk as a preview of what the walk will be like when completed. [Bruce Lipsky/Times-Union archive]

1995: Portrait of former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold. [Times-Union archive]

February, 1992: Mayor Jake Godbold and artist's rendering of broadcast park at press conference at Channel 7. [Times-Union archive]

Oct. 12, 1996: Former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold was asked to conduct the St. Johns River City Band during the Eastside Celebration at Matthew Gilbert Middle School, but he conducted the audience instead. The celebration was part of Mayor John Delaney's Intensive Care Neighborhood Program. [Will Dickey/The Florida Times-Union]

1986: Mayor Jake Godbold talks about Mayo in Jacksonville, which opened on Oct. 6, 1986. [Times-Union archive]

Aug. 3, 1997: Jake and Jean Godbold. [Judy Wells/Times-Union archive]

Oct. 28, 1998: Four former Jacksonville mayors, two present, came out supporting Corrine Brown for her re-election. Former mayor Jake Godbold (center right) and Tommy Hazouri (right) were present at Jake's luncheon support party. On left is campaign manager and state representative Betty Holzendorf and Congresswoman Corrine Brown. [Don Burk/Times-Union archive]

November 1998: Jake Godbold poses on the Southbank. [Times-Union archive]

July 8, 2005: Dick Burnett (left) says his good friend former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold (right) likes to catch fish and will do anything to keep from losing one. Including a trip where Godbold's pants fell down around his ankles as he was trying to reel in a bass. [Bruce Lipsky/Times-Union archive]

April 8, 2004: Former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold (left) talks to Randy Evans,(right) Chairman of the Jacksonville Housing Commission, as an excavator from Southland Demolition begins the demolition of one of the housing units at Brentwood Park public housing apartments.. Godbold lived in the project as a young boy and had told stories about growing up there during the ceremony before the demolition began. The apartments were built in two stages in 1939 and 1945 and was home to many WWII veterans. Some prominent citizens, including Godbold, lived there. A total of 594 apartments were razed in about four months. The new development was to include 325 multi-family units, 96 habijax homes and a community center. [Bob Mack/Times-Union archive]

July 1, 2003: Five former Jacksonville mayors were in attendance for the inauguration of John Peyton as Mayor of Jacksonville. They are (L to R) Lou Ritter, Jake Godbold, Tommy Hazouri, Ed Austin, and John Delaney. [Don Burk/Times-Union archive]

Nov. 27, 2007: Former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold addresses the council about Tony Boselli's plans for Simonds-Johnson Park during the council meeting in Jacksonville, Florida. [Will Dickey/The Florida Times-Union]

Nov. 21, 2007: Former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold during an interview with The Florida Times-Union about his health, the state of the city and his thoughts on his legacy as mayor. [Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union]

April 9, 2009: Four former mayors and the current mayor pose for a photo with Peter Bragan, Sr. (front left) and his son Peter Bragan, Jr. (right front). Jake Godbold, (left) Ed Austin, John Delaney, Tommy Hazouri, and John Peyton all were mayors for the last 25 years of Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Suns with a new affiliation with the Florida Marlins opened their season against the Tennessee Smokies Thursday night April 9, 2009. [John Pemberton/Times-Union archive]

Aug. 29, 2009: Before a lunchtime crowd at the Mary Singleton Senior Center off East First Street, former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold expresses his irritation over recent actions of the City Council Finance Committee regarding cutting funding of senior programs in Jacksonville. [Jon M. Fletcher/Times-Union archive]

Aug. 29, 2009: Former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold (center) reaches out to Mary Lou Sutherlin at the Mary Singleton Senior Center off East First Street, after addressing a lunchtime crowd about his irritation over recent actions of the City Council Finance Committee regarding cutting funding of senior programs in Jacksonville. [Jon M. Fletcher/The Florida Times-Union]

2010: Reginald Brown, area manager for Paper Retriever, (at left), greets former Mayor Jake Godbold, who was presented with the Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Commission's first "Jake Award." [Provided by Maria Coppola/Broadbased Communications 2010/Times-Union archive]

April 14, 2010: Former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold (center), and Former Florida Governor Claude Kirk talk following the church/funeral service for former Jacksonville Mayor Lou Ritter at the First Presbyterian Church. Burial followed at Evergreen Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida. [Don Burk/Times-Union archive]

Feb. 22, 2011: Jessie-Lynne Kerr (left), accompanied by her son Jason Kerr (right) is greeted by former mayor of Jacksonville Jake Godbold, as Kerr celebrates 47 years as a journalist. In attendance were Jacksonville city leaders, judges, mayors, attorneys, police, fire officials, and fellow journalists, who joined together to honor Jessie-Lynne Kerr at the Times-Union building in Jacksonville, Florida. A section of Riverside Avenue was also designated with her name on it, and the future media room at the new Duval County Courthouse will be named after her. [Don Burk/Times-Union archive]

April 28, 2011: Former mayor Jake Godbold (left) greats UNF president and former mayor John Delaney before the funeral service for former Jacksonville Mayor T. Edward Austin, Jr., was held at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd Thursday in Jacksonville, FL. [Bruce Lipsky/ Times-Union archive]

July 10, 2012: Former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold spoke to the gathered audience during the memorial service for Jacksonville Suns owner Peter D. Bragan Sr. The viewing and memorial service was held at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Hundreds of friends and fans paid their respects to the Bragan family and a string of local celebrities and family friends spoke at the memorial service. [Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union]

July 11, 2011: Former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold gets some assistance from Jodi Mohrmann adjusting his microphone as he was a guest anchor for WJXT during the inauguration of Alvin Brown as Mayor of Jacksonville at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. [Don Burk/ Times-Union archive]

July 1, 2015: Former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold poses for photographs before the start of an inauguration. Jacksonville's new mayor Lenny Curry and new sheriff Mike Williams were sworn in during a joint ceremony in the Jacoby Symphony Hall of the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts. [Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union]

July 14, 2016: Jake Godbold walks through the parking lot on his way to lunch at River City Brewing Company. [Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union]

Oct. 10, 2012: Former Mayor Jake Godbold listens to the three finalist make their pitch to the JTA. The JTA board chose Nathaniel Ford as it's new executive director on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 in Jacksonville, FL. [Bruce Lipsky/Times-Union archive]

March 9, 2013: Former Mayor Jake Godbold (center) talks with Pat Craig Corda (left) and Martha Barrett during a party celebrating his 80th birthday in Jacksonville, Florida. [Will Dickey, The Florida Times-Union]

July 14, 2016: (left to right) Karen Backilman and Vera Benjamin are greeted by former Jacksonville Mayor Jake as he enters River City Brewing Company for lunch. (Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union]

July 14, 2016: Former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold during lunch at River City Brewing Company on the Southbank of the St. Johns River. [Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union]

July 14, 2016: Evelyn Pezk stops at former Mayor Jake Godbold's table to talk with him as he has lunch at River City Brewing Company on the Southbank of the St. Johns River. [Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union]

July 19, 2016: Former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold looks over an autographed baseball as he recounts stories from his past in the conference room of his longtime business Gateway Chemicals and Janitorial Supplies on Golfair Blvd. A visitor hold a plaque with photographs of Godbold and his wife, Jean from the night of his mayoral election win in 1979. [Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union]

July 14, 2016: A copy of a Florida Times-Union news article about Jake Godbold from 1987 sits on the table as he eats lunch at River City Brewing Company on the Southbank of the St. Johns River Thursday. [Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union]

July 19, 2016: Former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold checks in on his longtime business, Gateway Chemicals and Janitorial Supplies on Golfair Blvd. [Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union]

July 19, 2016: Former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold stands outside the Neoclassical Style Brentwood Park Bandstand as he recounted stories about his time in the park as a child. Brentwood Park was the center of Godbold's world as he grew up in the adjacent Brentwood Housing Project. [Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union]

July 19, 2016: A visitor looks at a photograph presented to former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold by then Mayor John Peyton during an interview with Godbold in the conference room of his longtime business, Gateway Chemicals and Janitorial Supplies on Golfair Blvd. [Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union]

July 19, 2016: Former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold with his former aid and long time friend Martha Barrett in the conference room of his longtime business, Gateway Chemicals and Janitorial Supplies on Golfair Blvd., surrounded by photographs of Jacksonville and milestones in the city's history. [Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union]

July 19, 2016: Former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold walks out of the Neoclassical Style Brentwood Park Bandstand. Brentwood Park was the center of Godbold's world as he grew up in the adjacent Brentwood Housing Project. [Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union]

July 19, 2016: Former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold sits in the conference room of his longtime business, Gateway Chemicals and Janitorial Supplies on Golfair Blvd., surrounded by photographs of Jacksonville and milestones in the city's history in addition to a ready supply of Bar-B-Q sauce. [Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union]