John A. Oerting, Jr.

John A. Oerting, Jr. 1924 – 2024. John A. Oerting, Jr. died September 24, 2024. John was born May 4, 1924 in Pensacola, Florida, graduated from Auburn University in 1950 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

John served 4 years in the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII, and 2 years as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.

John began work with Gulf Power Company in 1950 and married Anne Bray in November of 1950. John and Anne were happily married for almost 60 years before Anne’s death in 2009. John was preceeded in death also by his daughter McKenzie Oerting, and leaves behind two wonderful sons, John David and Richard Michael, and one grandson John Michael.

John served as Gulf Power’s Chief Electrical Engineer and upon retirement in 1989 was also Director of Power Delivery and Assistant to the President.

John was active in many civic organizations and clubs. He was Chairman of the Northwest Florida Salvation Army Advisory Committee, President of the Defuniak Springs Junior Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Walton County Industrial Advisory Committee, a member of the Okaloosa Walton Junior College Board of Trustees, President of the Niceville – Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, District Chairman of the Okaloosa Boy Scouts of America Advisory Committee to name just a few.

In the mid 1950’s John recognized the need for a golf course on the east side of Pensacola, and organized a group of his friends and acquaintances to work toward achieving this objective. John’s wife Anne originated the name “Scenic Hills”, and with the help of many people Scenic Hills Country Club became a reality.

In the mid 1960’s John became interested in sailing, in 1970 served as Chairman of the first “Sea Scout National Sailing Regatta” hosted by Pensacola Navy Yacht Club. Soon after this the U.S. Navy appointed John as the Southeastern U.S. member of it’s “National Sailing Advisory Committee”, and John served in this capacity for many years. In 1971 John became a member of the Pensacola Yacht Club, and in the late 1970’s he originated the concept of a Gulf Yachting Association “Offshore Challenge Cup Regatta”. This was adapted by the GYA Board of Directors, and in 1979 John served as Chairman of the first “GYA Offshore Challenge Cup Regatta” which was hosted by Pensacola Yacht Club.

1982 John was elected Commodore of Pensacola Yacht Club, and in 1990 John served as Commodore of the Gulf Yachting Association which is comprised of many Yacht Clubs along the Gulf Coast from New Orleans to St. Petersburg, Florida. John’s love for sailing continued for the rest of his life, and he sailed in many Regattas over the years. 

Thanks to the love and much help of John’s family and friends he lived a full and successful life and enjoyed it to the end.