Interim County Administrator George Touart Passes Away

January 24, 2014

Escambia County Interim Administrator George Touart passed away early Friday morning with his family at his side.  Touart had been on sick leave since December 26 due to complications from his battle with cancer. He was 65.

He recently announced his retirement, which was to have been effective February 3.

“I would like to thank the Board of County Commissioners for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Escambia County,”  said Touart in his retirement letter. H was named interim administrator December 1, 2012.

In the retirement letter, Tourt said he was proud of accomplishments that included the transition of the Escambia County Jail and the library system, the four-cent gas tax for mass transit and a three percent across the board employee pay raise.

Previously, Touart served as county administrator for almost six years before he retired he 2007.

Born and raised in Pensacola, Touart graduated from Pensacola High School in 1966 and was very proud to call Escambia County home.

A longtime businessman with more than 25 years experience in management, Touart owned multiple successful companies and served in numerous leadership roles in local government; including Pascagoula city councilman, public information officer for the Mississippi State High Department and county administrator of Madison County, Mississippi.

Touart belonged to the Perdido Bay United Methodist Church and was a member of many community and civic organizations throughout the years, including Five Flags Rotary, Irish Politician’s Club, Moss Point Young Men’s Business Club, the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Escambia County and Baptist Hospital Board of Directors.

Touart is survived by his parents Clyde and Mary Touart, wife Barbara, sons Mathew and Jacob Touart and daughters Amber Howard and Christy McDonald, as well as numerous grandchildren.

Flags at county facilities are being flown at half-staff in memory of Mr. Touart.

The BOCC is currently in the process of hiring a new  permanent administrator from a short list of five candidates that did not include Touart. Although he applied for the job, the board had voted to exclude him from the final selection process.

Comments

9 Responses to “Interim County Administrator George Touart Passes Away”

  1. AL on January 26th, 2014 7:41 pm

    Mr. Touart was a great advocate for animals in Escambia Co. You can judge a lot about a man by the way he treats animals

  2. Aaron on January 25th, 2014 12:48 pm

    Condolences to the Touart family.

    Mr. Touart will be missed in our part of the county.

  3. Duke of Wawbeek on January 25th, 2014 9:19 am

    One may never know the color of a man’s soul. We can only measure and remember him by the actions he took.

    My condolences to the Touart family.

  4. Kay on January 24th, 2014 8:26 pm

    RIP George……may you finally get the peace you so deserve. Praying for your family.

  5. Lady on January 24th, 2014 8:24 pm

    George did his best for the county but they did not appreciate him. If they had appreciated all the hard work he has done they would have included his name in the new candidate list. Our county is eat up with some of these self-rioutness people who think they can do more than the people in office who have been here a long time and knows the system. Let’s see what the next one does and I’ll be sure and point out their faults when I hear of them. God Bless you Mr. George. You did a good job and now you are with the Father who will appreciate you.

  6. David Huie Green on January 24th, 2014 5:31 pm

    I hope those who insist he just worked for some big retirement can lay their fears aside now.

    As best I can tell, he did the best he could with the situation he faced.
    It is hard to ask for more.
    It is unreasonable to ask for more.

    May the Lord receive him with open arms.

  7. Gary on January 24th, 2014 8:50 am

    George certainly had issues with many Escambia County residents. Some deserved, some not. I used to dove hunt with him years ago and although we never really talked politics, he did have the best for Escambia County in his heart.

  8. Louise on January 24th, 2014 8:17 am

    By my last comment I meant George deserves some peace. He truly had the best for Escambia County in his heart.

  9. Louise on January 24th, 2014 8:16 am

    RIP George…you deserve it.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News