Tom Petway

Lore & Background

Tom Petway was born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1940 and graduated from Terry Parker High School in 1958. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University School of Business in 1962. He married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth "Betty" Piersol, in 1963; they had four children, one of whom, Mandi, died in 1992 from Hodgkin's disease. Betty died in 2025 after 62 years of marriage.

Petway co-founded and chaired US Assure, Inc., a national insurance marketing and administrative services company, later led by his son Ty. In 1988, he provided financial backing and business advice to Linda Sherrer for the Prudential Network Realty franchise, becoming a silent partner. He was also a co-founder and minority partner in the Jacksonville Jaguars, the NFL's 30th franchise. He served as chairman of Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the Casualty Joint Underwriting Association, and Florida Residential Property.

His civic roles included co-chairman of the organizing group for Super Bowl XXXIX and co-chairman and CEO of the Jacksonville Super Bowl Host Committee. He served two gubernatorial appointments to the Florida Board of Regents (1989–1995 and 1999–2001), chairing it for two years. He chaired the Community Hospice Foundation and served two terms as chairman of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission.

Reader's Guide

Tom Petway's significance lies in his multifaceted contributions to Jacksonville's economic and civic life. As a co-founder of US Assure and a minority partner in the Jacksonville Jaguars, he helped shape the city's business landscape and its emergence as an NFL market. His role in securing Super Bowl XXXIX for Jacksonville demonstrated his capacity to lead large-scale civic projects. Petway's influence extended to state education policy through his chairmanship of the Florida Board of Regents, where he helped oversee the state university system. His philanthropic work, particularly with the Community Hospice Foundation, reflected a long-term commitment to healthcare and end-of-life care. Politically, he was a prominent Republican and supporter of the Bush family, contributing substantial funds and serving on campaign committees. His legacy is also marked by honors from Florida State University, where he helped quintuple the endowment, and induction into the First Coast Business Hall of Fame. Petway's career exemplifies the integration of private enterprise, public service, and civic engagement in Florida.

Did You Know?

• Petway was a co-founder and minority partner in the NFL's 30th franchise, the Jacksonville Jaguars.
• He helped Florida State University quintuple its endowment from $50 million to $250 million while chairman of the FSU Foundation board.
• Petway was one of the first four individuals inducted into the First Coast Business Hall of Fame in 1999.
• He was a lunch guest at President George Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, and received the traditional 'pickup truck tour'.