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Pinellas County Biographies


C. C. Carr


Transcribed from: The History of Florida: Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol. III, page 99, 1923.

Contributed for use on Pinellas County by: Nancy Rayburn ([email protected]).


CARR, C. C. The power of the Fourth Estate is felt not only in politics, but in every department of civic life. There are many people whose time is so occupied, or whose inclinations are such, that the newspaper supplies them with all their reading matter, and from it is gained their attitude, not upon public matters alone, but their ideas with reference to all current affairs. Therefore it is of prime importance that those who shape the policies and control the destinies of the journals of the different localities be men of high character and broad outlook on life; men able to rise above petty bickering and deal with the problems of life in a whole-souled and capable manner. Such a man beyond and question is C. C. CARR, part owner and active manager of the St. Petersburg Times, the leading newspaper of Pinellas County.

C. C. CARR was born in Indiana, which has produced some of the leading journalists and literary men of this age, and he attended the grammar and high schools, and the University of Indiana, from which he was graduated in 1909. In the intervals of attending school Mr. CARR began learning the newspaper business, and rose, through honest effort, and natural capability, from the mailing galley to a reporter's position. Like GEORGE ADE and other newspaper men of note, he gained a purposeful and useful experience in the newspaper field at Chicago, and for a time was connected in a reportorial capacity with the Chicago Inter Ocean. Mr. CARR also ventured into the educational field, following his graduation from the university, and then, attracted by the lure of the tropics and love of adventure inherent in the breast of every normal young man, he went to the Canal Zone, where for four years he was in the employ of the United States Government as a member of its civil administration staff. As such he rendered signal service as head of the system of high schools in the zone. It was while in the zone that he wrote "The Story of Panama," which is unusually interesting for what he wrote about he knew from personal experience. This book was issued in 1912 by the Silver-Burdett Company, and met with a gratifying reception by the public.

With the canal completed, Mr. CARR's connection with the government service terminated, and he returned to the United States, and resumed the work for which he had always felt he was best fitted. Until 1914 he and PAUL POYNTER owned and issued the Daily Times of Sullivan, Indiana, but it was not until he came, in that year, to St. Petersburg that Mr. CARR was given the opportunity to show his mettle, or demonstrate what a very capable man he really is. Since he took charge of the Times that journal has shown an astounding growth, and he and his associates have made it metropolitan in character and scope. The plant is housed in a modern three-story building, equipped with every facility for printing a paper that is a credit to Saint Petersburg and Pinellas County.

Mr. CARR is a splendid newspaper man, but he is more, he is a good citizen, and is just as zealous in the discharge of his civic duties as he is in those pertaining to his business. His conception of the former include his service as one of the vice presidents of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, as president of the Rotary Club, and as chairman of the County School Board. In the latter capacity his work has been especially effective during a period when many difficult problems have confronted the board. Mr. CARR is particularly interested in educational matters, which he is able to handle in a professional way owning to his experience in the schoolroom, and he is determined to put the schools of his city in the front rank in efficiency and scholarship, in spite of the financial difficulties which present themselves. Such men as Mr. CARR give distinction to their work and communities, and are valuable assets wherever found.