Lewis James Johnson

Lewis James (Red) Johnson, 94, died Tuesday, July 22, 2003 at the Arkansas Baptist Medical Center. He was born Nov. 7, 1908 in Reader, Arkansas and gained statewide prominence as head of the Arkansas Farmers Union in the 1950s and 1960s. In that role, he brought to Arkansas more than $67 million in federal funds to help older people and the underprivileged young. He did it with such apparent ease that most of his associates had no idea of the magnitude of his accomplishment. Red Johnson was always big for his age and he played football in Prescott High School during time that he could spare from work in the oil fields. He made the All-State Football Team. Red went to the University of Arkansas where he was captain of the Razorbacks in his junior year, 1933.

After college, he became a wholesale grocery salesman. At the suggestion of an old friend, J. Albert Hopkins, he went to work for the federal Farm Security Administration, a line of work closer to his interests. He was quickly recognized for his ability to get things done. As a troubleshooter, he rescued two large rural cooperatives in southwest Arkansas. Hopkins died in 1957. Johnson replaced him as president of the Arkansas Farmers Union and as general manager of the Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Company. He retired from these positions in 1975.

Lewis was highly respected politically and became well-connected in Washington, DC. When President Lyndon Johnson’s “War on Poverty” was going slowly, Red Johnson put wheels under the program in Arkansas with the introduction of the first Neighborhood Youth Corps. It was expected that he might be able to activate 250 jobs. He surprised–and delighted–Sargent Shriver, the national director, by starting 7,000 jobs. After that first group, another 7,000 followed. Johnson had his eye on the needs of Arkansas people. To provide work for older and retired farmers, Johnson brought Green Thumb to Arkansas. Though nothing in the original legislation authorized the employment of rural women, Johnson was soon hiring women as well as men. He helped the Green Thumbers establish the first senior citizens centers in Arkansas, turning them over to the Agency on Aging when it came on the scene. He established a displaced farm workers program, training both men and women in such jobs as auto mechanics, bricklayers, and practical nurses. He originated a rural home repair program, employing retired carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and roofers to supervise unskilled workers. In another instance, he rented a bus and staffed it with a retired doctor, a nurse, and a driver. The crew toured Arkansas providing free health examination to senior citizens. Indicative of Johnson’s standing, Vice President Hubert Humphrey got a physical examination during a trip to Arkansas. Johnson was a member of the Second Baptist Church of Little Rock for more than half a century, and was a teacher of the Brooks Hays Bible Class. Among his close friends had been Congressman Brooks Hays. He received the 1998 Brooks Hays Christian Citizenship Award. Johnson made leadership look easy. He gave most of the credit to his friends and to those who worked with him. “Things just kind of fell into place,” he explained.

He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Elizabeth Neal of Prescott, by a son, Lewis Jr. (Jim) of Dallas, TX, three brothers, and a sister. His memory will be cherished by two children, Tom, an architect in Portland, OR, and Judy Nottage of Little Rock; a daughter-in-law, Sunny Johnson, of Arlington, TX; five grandchildren, Keli Stroman and her husband, Alan, of Little Rock; Mala Munford and her husband, John, of Little Rock; Kathy Johnson, of Portland, OR; Scott Johnson, of Hot Springs; Tom Johnson, of Crestview, FL; two great grandsons, Justin and Andy Stroman, of Little Rock. Memorials may be made to your favorite charity of choice. A Gathering in remembrance of Mr. Lewis Johnson will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 26, 2003 at Second Baptist Church with Dr. Ray Higgins and Dr. Dale Cowling officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Hills Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth, 5800 West 12th Street, Little Rock, 661-9111. To sign the online guestbook, visit www.griffinleggett.com.