Larry Newsom, who held several leadership positions in Escambia County government, passed away this weekend. He had served as city manager of Flagler Beach since 2016 and been battling illness off and on for months.
“This is a profound loss for our family here in Flagler Beach,” Jane Mealy, chair of the Flagler Beach City Commission, told the media.
Newsom first worked for Escambia County in the engineering department as a survey crew member. He rose to second-in-command, serving county administrators Bob McLaughlin, Randy Oliver, George Touart and Jack Brown. He was interim administrator during the BP oil disaster in 2010 and the ice storm and flooding of 2014. Newsom resigned in November 2014.
I worked with Larry from 2012 until his departure in 2014. Randy Oliver had hired me as HR Director, He was terminated the Thursday before my start the following Monday. No one from Escambia County relayed this change of circumstances. When I went to a meeting on Monday morning, Larry introduced himself and said he was told he was supposed to fire me and hire one of the other candidates. He said he wasn’t going to do that so I stayed. Larry was a very direct and often blunt manager that advocated for his employees. He defended them when attacks were made. He didn’t ignore the issue – he dealt with it in private as it should be. He tried to do what he thought was consistent with the needs and direction of the county. He wasn’t perfect but no one walking this earth is. He seemed to flourish at Flagler Beach and was likely properly skilled for the two or three major storms that hit their area. I pray for his wife Lisa as she moved forward without Larry. She was always in his thoughts it seemed.
I had the opportunity to work with Larry during my time on the Pensacola City Council and service on the Florida Alabama Transportation Planning Organization. He was a fountain of knowledge. He knew administrative operations very well. I appreciated his professional opinion on items affecting transportation issues and challenges in Escambia County. Rest in peace my friend.
I am so very sorry to hear about Larry. Have known Larry for a long time. Met him initially over a project in my neighborhood and worked with him years later as a Commissioner Aide. We didn’t always agree (understatement), but remained friends. Although we hadn’t spoken that much since he left to work for the City of Flagler Beach I will always consider him a good friend and his memory will always stay in my heart!
Dean Kirschner