Jump to content

Earl D. Johnson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Earl D. Johnson
4th United States Under Secretary of the Army
In office
1952–1954
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byKarl Bendetsen
Succeeded byJohn Slezak
Acting United States Secretary of the Army
In office
January 20, 1953 – February 4, 1953
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byFrank Pace
Succeeded byRobert T. Stevens
Personal details
Born(1905-12-14)December 14, 1905
Hamilton, Ohio
DiedJanuary 11, 1990(1990-01-11) (aged 84)
Greenwich, Connecticut
SpouseMyrtle "Honey" Vietmeyer
ChildrenRaud Earl Johnson (Alexander), Susan Lynn Johnson (Darby & Carrie), Cynthia Lee Johnson (Donna, Noel, Tuesday)
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin
BA
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Forces
Years of service1932
1942–1946
Rank Colonel

Earl D. Johnson (December 14, 1905 – January 11, 1990) was United States Under Secretary of the Army from 1952 to 1954.

Biography

[edit]

Earl Dallum Johnson was born in Hamilton, Ohio, on December 14, 1905. He was educated at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, receiving a B.A. in 1928. He then spent a year as a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, before enrolling in the United States Army Air Corps Training School, graduating as a pilot in 1932.

Johnson worked at Loomis, Sayles & Company from 1933 to 1942. During World War II, he saw active duty as deputy commander of the Ferrying Division at the Air Transport Command. He left the United States Army Air Forces as a colonel in 1946. He then returned to Loomis, Sayles.

In 1950, President of the United States Harry Truman nominated Johnson as Assistant Secretary of the Army (Research and Materiel). He held this office until 1952, at which time President Truman nominated him as United States Under Secretary of the Army. He subsequently held this office from October 1952 until January 1954. Johnson also served as acting Secretary of the Army from January 20 to February 4, 1953, when Frank Pace left the post and awaiting the confirmation of incoming Secretary Robert T. Stevens. He also served as chairman of the Panama Canal Company from 1953 until 1954.

Upon leaving government service in 1954, Johnson became an executive at American Transport Association and Air Cargo Inc. In 1955, he left for General Dynamics. In 1963, he left GD, spending a year as CEO at Delta Air Lines before retiring in 1964. Upon retirement Johnson served on several boards and often provided strategic consulting services to several politicians and private corporations. Johnson was a member of the Explorer's Club (he was on the first flight to both Poles and subsequently flew to Antarctica on more than one occasion with colleagues and friends), the Union Club and Greenwich Country Club where there is a skeet shooting tournament held annually in his name.

Johnson died in Greenwich, Connecticut, on January 11, 1990. There were two services celebrating his life: 1) Christ Church, Greenwich, Connecticut, and 2) at Arlington National Cemetery, where there was a 21-gun salute in his honor. He is buried there with his spouse, Honey. Johnson's family launched a scholarship in his name at University of Wisconsin for students in need who maintain a 3.8 GPA.

References

[edit]
Government offices
Preceded by Assistant Secretary of the Army
May 31, 1950 – May 7, 1952
Succeeded by
Office abolished
Preceded by United States Under Secretary of the Army
October 1952 – January 1954
Succeeded by
Preceded by Acting United States Secretary of the Army
January 20, 1953 – February 4, 1953
Succeeded by