William Reynold Johnson

HANOVER -- William Reynold Johnson, 78, retired justice of the N.H. Supreme Court, died suddenly May 30, 2009, in Roanoke Rapids, N.C., while en route from his winter residence in Florida to his home in Hanover.

Bill was born in Excelsior, Minn., Oct. 21, 1930, son of Reynold and Nettie (Cunningham) Johnson. He attended the Excelsior public schools and was looking forward to attending the Excelsior High School Class of 1949 60th reunion in the fall. Bill graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, in 1953, where he was a history major and member of Phi Beta Kappa. While at Dartmouth, he played on the basketball and baseball teams. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Casque and Gauntlet and the Army ROTC.

In the fall of 1953, Bill began his studies at Harvard Law School. He attended for one year before accepting a commission in the U.S. Army, where he served for two years at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., and Fort Campbell, Ky.

IN HIS LIFE: On Aug. 14, 1953, Bill married his Excelsior High School sweetheart, Nancy Preston. In the fall of 1956, after his Army service, he returned to Harvard and he received his degree in 1958. Bill practiced law with the firm of Cotton, Tesreau, and Stebbins in Lebanon. He was a member of the Grafton County Bar Association, N.H. Bar Association and American Bar Association.

Bill was elected to the N.H. Legislature in 1962 and to the N.H. State Senate in 1964. He was chairman of the N.H. Republican party from 1964 to 1966. While in the Legislature, he introduced bills to establish the New Hampshire Council on the Arts and he introduced legislation to establish the N.H. Conservation Commission. Bill was also instrumental in the creation of the Dresden School District, the first interstate school district in the nation. In 1966, he ran for the N.H. Republican party nomination for the U.S. Senate and was defeated by retired Gen. Harrison Thyng.

In 1967, Bill was the N.H. chairman for Michigan Gov. George Romney's presidential campaign and in 1968 he managed the gubernatorial campaign for Walter Peterson.

Bill was again elected to the N.H. Legislature in 1968. He was appointed to the N.H. Superior Court in 1969 and in 1985 he was appointed to the N.H. Supreme Court. He retired in December, 1999.

Bill was an adjunct professor of business law at the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College from 1959 to 1999. Bill started the Friends of Dartmouth Basketball in 1970, the first "Friends" organization formed to assist Dartmouth athletic programs. He was a season ticket holder for Dartmouth football and basketball games for over 40 years. He and his family rarely missed a game.

Bill was a member of The Church of Christ at Dartmouth College. He was also a member of the Hanover Country Club and a past member of the Hanover Rotary Club. Bill remained devoted to the study of the law, history and politics throughout his life.

Bill leaves his wife of 54 years, Nancy, and his daughters, Catherine Johnson of Hanover, and Sue Bower and husband, Andy, of Gretna, La. He is survived by his grandchildren, Sarah Donahue and Will Bower. He is also survived by his brother, James Johnson and wife, Cammy, of Excelsior, Minn., his sister, Patricia Souba of Eden Prairie, Minn., and his brother-in-law, Justice Sherman D. Horton Jr. of Hillsborough. His survivors include many nieces and nephews.

SERVICES: Memorial services will be held at the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College Monday, June 15, at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at the Hanover Inn.

A memorial fund is being established at Dartmouth College. Gifts should be directed to the Hon. William R. Johnson '53 Memorial Fund, Dartmouth Athletics, 6083 Alumni Gym, Hanover 03755. The Rand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hanover is in charge of arrangements.