PANAMA CITY, FL – Gulf Coast State College honored Jimmy T. Patronis of Panama City, FL at the 7th Annual Distinguished and Rising Alumni Awards event in March. The son of Jimmy and Helen Patronis, he has dedicated his life to developing the community. Patronis represented the 6th District in the Florida House of Representatives and was recently appointed to serve on the Florida Public Service Commission. He is a member of the National Association OF Regulatory Utility Commissioners and serves on its Committee on Consumer Affairs, and the Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment. His work and commitment to public service is appreciated throughout the Northwest region of Florida. Concerning her son’s recent award, his mother Helen said “We are very proud of all his accomplishments.”

A restauranteur by trade, Patronis began his political career as an intern for the Florida Senate in 1995. A year later, he worked as a research assistant for the House OF Commons in London. In 2006, he was elected as the Republican representative for the 6th District of Florida. In his bid for reelection in 2008, he won unopposed. In 2010, he defeated the Democratic challenger John McDonald with 78% of the vote.

Patronis is a dedicated Orthodox Christian, and a lifelong member of ST. JOHN’S GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH. Family is also a top priority. He intended to run for Florida state representative of the 4th District, but decided to spend more time with his family, wife Katie and their two sons.

The Patronis family business, CAPTAIN ANDERSON’S RESTAURANT, first opened in 1967 and continues to be a success. Brothers Jimmy and Johnny founded the restaurant, alternating day and night shifts in the early days, and continue to pull shifts though the younger generation of the family began taking a larger role in the day to day running of the business in the last 20 years. Besides serving as Commissioner for the Florida Public Works Commission, Patronis is also a partner in the family restaurant where he and his father, uncle, and brothers all continue to work.