Peter T. Johnson

Peter T. Johnson
1932 ~ 2014
Peter Thomas Johnson was born on February 3, 1932 in Boise, Idaho. His mother, Roxie McMillan Johnson, was a third generation Idahoan of pioneer descent and his father, Ansgar Johnson, a prominent photographer. Growing up in Boise's east end, he attended Roosevelt Elementary, North Junior High and Boise High Schools graduating in 1950. He traveled east to Dartmouth College for his undergraduate degree then went on to Tuck School of Business receiving his MBA in 1955. Peter remained a devoted alum, crediting his education with shaping his life goals.
Peter married Carolyn Carley in 1952, his high school sweetheart and whisked her back to Dartmouth. After graduation, Peter and Carolyn moved to Edwards Air Force Base, California with their daughters Linda and Laura. Peter served in the Air Force for 3 years where LeeAnn was born. The family moved to Boise in 1958 where Lisa was born; Boise remained their home for the next 29 years.
Peter began his career under the tutelage of Gordon MacGregor at MacGregor Triangle, a logging, road construction and cattle company in 1958. He was promoted to vice president. He also served as president of Pressure Treated Timber Company, a subsidiary. Peter joined Trus Joist in 1969 and became CEO in 1972 at the age of 40. One of the company's greatest achievements during his ten years there was the design and construction of the Kibbie Dome at U of I. Due to Peter's leadership and business acumen, Trus Joist became a model example of progressive business practices.
In 1981, having honed his business skills in the private sector, Peter turned his energies to the public domain. Public service had always been a goal and priority for him. Peter was sponsored by Senator James McClure to head the Bonneville Power Administration, a Federal Agency that oversees the dams on the Columbia River and its tributaries. Ronald Reagan appointed Peter as BPA Administrator at a critical time for the administration. Peter and Carolyn moved to Portland, Oregon for five years while he served at the helm of BPA. Peter made a difficult but prudent decision to mothball the construction of two nuclear power plants known as WWPSS. This saved the integrity of the power industry in the northwest. Peter's sensitivity to environmental issues led to the dedication of the Peter T. Johnson Wildlife Mitigation Unit at Craig Mountain, 60,000 acres of wilderness protected and devoted to the conservation of the land and habitat.
During Peter's 25 years in Boise, he was involved on many levels with philanthropic endeavors including; Bogus Basin Board, the Children's Home Society Board, co-founder of the Idaho Community Foundation, co-chaired Governor John Evan's government management task force committee searching for greater efficiency in government, appointed to the National Academy of Science Nuclear Committee representing the Pacific Northwest. Peter served from 1960 to 1981 on the Bogus Basin Board and was president during the construction of the Pioneer Lodge, re-model of the main lodge and construction of chair 3. He guided the Children's Home Society from an orphanage to a counseling center during his tenure on the board. In addition to these commitments, he found time to serve as a director of the Idaho First National Bank, Standard Insurance Company and Idaho Power. He taught at BSU as an executive in residence as well.
Following BPA, Peter and Carolyn left Portland and headed for McCall, Idaho. This marked a turning point in Peter's goals and ambitions as he moved from his public life to his personal creative pursuits. Having grown up spending summers in McCall, Peter developed a deep spiritual connection with Nature which sustained him throughout his life. His creative side flourished in his writing, sculpting and painting. He initiated the Payette Lake Water Quality Council, a non-profit volunteer organization designed to protect Payette Lake from "all of us who are loving it to death".
An important goal of Peter's was to leave a legacy for future generations as embodied in the content of his art. The bronze statue perched on a rock overlooking Payette Lake, "Women of Windy Point" is a tribute to the influence that women in his family had on his life. The bronze bust of Bob Loughrey in the Pioneer Lodge at Bogus Basin is a testimony to his friendship with Bob.
Peter pursued writing with a vengeance. He was published twice in the Harvard Business Review. One article concerned "Why I Raced Against Phantom Competitors" and the other explored "How I Turned Competitors Into Useful Consultants". The family cherishes volumes of stories and philosophies he wrote over his lifetime.
Throughout Peter's life, he enjoyed fly-fishing having hiked into 55 lakes in the Payette National forest. He discovered much of the Payette National Forest through his fire fighting and smoke jumping beginning at the age of 16. He enjoyed piano playing eventually perfecting "Rhapsody in Blue" by Gershwin. Peter ski raced in the first American Legion Race in Sun Valley taking first in the downhill and went on to race for Dartmouth College.
Peter loved to bring out the best in others. This included coaching his family with all their chosen endeavors even if the sport was totally foreign to him i.e. Barrel racing and cheerleading. His enthusiasm and support was always palpable. He enjoyed a sense of humor.
His wife Carolyn; his soul mate, his muse, his chef, his joy, his life companion, his love survives him as does his daughters, Linda and Shane Williams, Laura and Alan Shealy, LeeAnn and Tim Berry, and Lisa and Sean Cafferty; grandchildren, Peter, Carley, Virginia, Helen, Scott, Grant, Roxie, Harrison, Carolyn, Ryan, and Anna; and great granddaughter, Katherine.
Peter died Sunday, February 9, 2014 at his home in Boise.
A Celebration of his Life will be held at 10:00 am, Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at the Stueckle Sky Center, Skyline Room, 6th Floor, 1910 W University Dr., BSU, Boise, Idaho; reserved parking available in the stadium lot.
Memorial donations may be made to the Idaho Community Foundation, Pete T. and Carolyn C. Johnson, Greater Needs Fund, online at www.idcomfdn.org/funds, or by mail 210 W State St, Boise, Idaho 83702.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family on Peter's memorial webpage at www.summersfuneral.com.