Celebrating 70 Years!
In 2026, Lighthouse of Pinellas is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Celebrate with us!
Our History
Lighthouse of Pinellas, Inc. (LHP) has been serving Pinellas County residents who are visually impaired or blind for over 70 years. Founded primarily as a social club for seniors with vision loss, today LHP employs a variety of specially-trained staff certified and/or licensed in vision rehabilitation, orientation and mobility, mental health counseling, and speech pathology to help clients live safe, healthy lives as independently as possible.
Established by the Lions Club of St. Petersburg in 1956, the Lighthouse of Pinellas was originally named the Sight Center.
In 1966, J.B. and Muriel Watson formed the Channel Markers for the Blind, an organization providing the same services offered at the Sight Center for residents in northern Pinellas County. In 1984 the two organizations merged to become the Pinellas Center for the Visually Impaired. Then, in August 2005, the name officially changed to the Lighthouse of Pinellas.
Lighthouse of Pinellas is the only private, non-profit agency providing vision rehabilitation training for individuals of all ages who are residents of Pinellas County, Florida, under one roof. Our programs are accredited by the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER).
Our Timeline
Lighthouse of Pinellas has served our community for decades, growing from early foundations into a full continuum of vision rehabilitation and support. Here are a few milestones that shaped who we are today.
More History
- 1974 – October: Groundbreaking ceremony for Channel Markers’ permanent location at 1610 N. Myrtle Ave.
- 1975 – February: Mr. Howard Knapp named Executive Director of Channel Markers for the Blind.
- 1976 – June: Ms. Priscilla Rogers named Executive Director.
- 1981 – November: Ms. Patricia Rosser named Executive Director.
- 1984 – October: Became Pinellas Center for the Visually Impaired, Inc. (PCVI).
- 1987 – July: Mr. Robert Nelms named Executive Director.
- 1990 – July: Stephen Barrett named Executive Director.
- 1994: Achieved NAC accreditation.
- 1994 – October: Renovations complete on Largo location on 112th Circle.
- 2000 – June: Mr. Leonard Van Noord named Executive Director.
- 2000 – August: Agency name changed to Watson Center, Inc.
- 2002 – May: Mr. Dan Mann named Executive Director.
- 2003 – January: Name changed to Watson Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc.
- 2007 – January: Launched year-round Transition Program for teens ages 14 until high school graduation.
- 2016 – February: Children’s Program for 6 to 14 year-olds began.
- 2018 – January: Ms. Kimberly Church named President & CEO.
- 2020: Free Family Foundations funded the first STEM Lab to support the Teen (Transition) program.