Gary H. Katica, Mayor
Mayor Katica was born January 28, 1934 in Newark, New Jersey. In 1984, Mr. Katica, his wife Mary, son Harry, and daughter Irene, moved to beautiful Belleair, Florida. Mrs. Katica recently retired from teaching at Dunedin Middle School. Both of the Katica children attended high school at Clearwater High. Harry Katica was on the 1981 basketball team that won the state championship. Harry is now employed as a stock market analyst. Irene Katica is a pediatric registered nurse at a local hospital. Gary and Mary are blessed to have five grandchildren.
Commissioner Katica has been employed with Dimmitt Cadillac since 1981, and currently serves a sales manager. In the late 1950s Mr. Katica served as a air traffic controller at the New York Center. From 1962 to 1977 Mr. Katica owned a real estate business before moving to Clearwater in 1979. Below is a list of other relevant personal data for Mr. Katica.
Military: U.S.A.F from 1952-1956—Control Tower Operator
Served in the Korean War
Education: Graduated from the Federal Air Traffic Academy in Oklahoma City in 1957
Attended C.W. Post College from 1957-1962 on basketball scholarship
Political Experience: From 1968-1978, Mr. Katica served Port Jefferson, New York on the zoning and planning board, parks commission, as an elected town commissioner, as well as appointed police commissioner.
Served on the planning and zoning board for the Town of Belleair
Appointed town commissioner in November of 2000 and elected in March of 2001- 2007
Elected as Mayor of Belleair March 2007.
Activities: Commissioner Katica has been involved with the Rotary for 24 years and has served as past president, as well as other executive positions. He was most recently involved with the Clearwater Beach Rotary. Served as a volunteer usher as Ruth Eckerd Hall Member of the Belleair Civic Association. Mayor Katica is also a member of the American Legion.
Hobbies: Fishing, woodworking, traveling and trying to beat his grandsons in chess
