Every Christmas, as I watch the classic film "It’s a Wonderful Life," I am deeply moved as the guardian angel, Clarence, shows George Bailey how much his life matters during his darkest hour.

St. Pete has its very own Clarence in the form of Gary King, affectionately known as the "Happiness Guy." Much like Clarence, Gary intervenes at critical moments with messages of hope and reminders of life's value, impacting lives profoundly through his simple yet powerful "Happiness" signs around town. 

So why is Gary King St. Pete’s guardian angel as Clarence is from “It’s a wonderful life?” And why does he put up the Happiness signs?

Here is why.
Gary’s only child, Jason King, tragically ended his own life by jumping off the Sunshine Skyway. In 2019, Gary decided to put up Happiness signs to honor his only child’s life and to heal his own emotional trauma. Since 2019, Gary King has put up 567 happiness signs by nailing them to telephone poles, attaching them to buildings, and famously hanging one below the St. Petersburg City Limits sign. Putting up these signs caught the attention of local news agencies and his story, one of the heartbreaking reality of his son and his mission to create miracles through his signs, has been aired several times over the past 4 years.

Sometime after his story was aired, a local woman named Delaney felt depressed and defeated and had determined her final destination in life would be the Sunshine Skyway. On her way to end her own life, just as Jason King did years earlier, she saw one of Gary’s “Happiness” signs. She remembered Gary’s story which was shared by the local media on ABC and Bay News 9. In her own words: “When I saw the Happiness sign, I turned around and went home. A year later, I met Gary King, the Happiness Guy and I will be forever Grateful for what he has done, not only for me but for what he has shared with this city. I shared with him that his sign brought tears to my eyes and reminded me that happiness is all around us, no matter our darkest days.”

Gary King reminded Delaney of her value through his Happiness signs and she made the choice to live. Just like that, Gary King earned his wings and is now a guardian angel of St. Pete. This story is one worth sharing.

 

"This story and many more like it are in his book “The Happiness Experiment” where Gary explains why he put up the 567 Happiness signs in St. Pete. This book sent shivers down my spine and couldn’t put it down. I have never read anything like it in my life. Gary’s story is one worth sharing and his book is worth reading: It has the power to transform and save lives. Gary plans on using the funds he earns from his book to expand the impact of the Happiness Experiment and a portion of the proceeds goes towards ending the homelessness crisis. " Nick F.