Dr. J. R. Johnson 1897 - 1973

Who can forget as they sat in a history or government class as Dr. J.R. Johnson would break out and recite the poem "The Cremation of Sam McGee" ? Johnson taught various History courses and the Introduction to American Government course at Kennedy College 1966-1968. Johnson had served as the Chairman of the History Department at Wayne State College before coming to JFK, it was there he had written his famous book in 1954, Representative Nebraskans, a collection of short biographies of famous Nebraskans. After leaving JFK, Dr. Johnson taught at Bellevue College. In 1971 they honored him by naming the Student Union after him. Carl Wirth'71 was selected to represent the students he had while at Kennedy. Dr. Johnson died on August 1, 1973.