[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 3, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H54]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN MEMORIAM: ROBERT JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF JET MAGAZINE

  (Mr. JACKSON of Illinois asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks and include 
extraneous material.)
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, let me first offer my 
condolences to the family of the gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio].
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this moment to honor the memory of 
a great and cherished man, pioneer, and leader, Mr. Robert Edward 
Johnson of Chicago, associate publisher and executive editor of Jet 
magazine.
  A longtime family friend and mentor, Mr. Johnson bridged the gap 
between African-American journalists of the past and the media 
celebrities of today. His life traced that of the civil rights era--a 
Morehouse College classmate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he was the 
first reporter of a major publication on the scene of the Montgomery 
bus boycott. He critically linked social action with mass 
communication, thereby changing the complexion of American journalism 
and propelling our historic struggle to victory.
  Through his example, he challenged and inspired his progeny to strive 
for excellence. For his immense contribution to our Nation and our 
world, we shall remember and honor him with eternal gratitude. Our 
deepest thoughts and prayers are with his wife Naomi--Nemi--their 
children, grandchildren, and numerous loved ones.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record a biography of Mr. Johnson's 
lifetime achievements and contributions.

       Robert Edward Johnson died Wednesday morning, December 27, 
     1995 at his Hyde Park, Chicago home after a long illness. He 
     was laid to rest on Tuesday, January 2nd. He was a role model 
     and mentor for thousands of journalists and a friend and 
     confidant of many, including entertainment superstars like 
     Bill Cosby and Michael Jackson and people of all walks of 
     life. He loved everybody and got as much joy out of telling 
     the stories of unheralded people in Jet as he got out of 
     telling the stories of world leaders and celebrities. He was 
     the author of the book, ``Bill Cosby: In Words and 
     Pictures.'' Johnson covered some of the major stories of the 
     time and was the first representative of a major national 
     publication on the scene at the beginning of the Montgomery 
     Bus boycott. A graduate of Morehouse College, where he was a 
     classmate of Martin Luther King Jr., and a student of the 
     great educator Benjamin E. Mays, Johnson played a major role 
     in helping to publicize the King crusade in America and in 
     Chicago.
       John H. Johnson, chairman and CEO of Johnson Publishing 
     Company, said, ``The company has lost a great editor, and I 
     have lost a dear friend. Bob Johnson was a great journalist 
     who inspired and taught tens of thousands of aspiring 
     journalists, Black and White. During his 42-year career as 
     Jet managing editor and executive editor, he helped change 
     the color of American journalism.''
       Born in Montgomery, Alabama on August 13, 1922, and reared 
     in Birmingham, Alabama, he was an active journalist for most 
     of his 73 years. He began his career as a child, throwing 
     papers for local dailies, selling editions of Black weeklies 
     on street corners, and founding his high school newspaper, 
     the Westfield Trail Blazer. At Morehouse College, from which 
     he graduated in 1948, he edited the Morehouse Maroon Tiger 
     and was a stringer for national newspapers. In 1952, he 
     received a master's degree in journalism from Syracuse 
     University.
       During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy and was 
     transferred to editorial duties at Treasure Island's Naval 
     Base in Masthead, which published a racist joke that was 
     offensive to African Americans. He later became the first 
     African American managing editor of the weekly tabloid.
       Johnson's professional career began in 1948 with the 
     Atlanta Daily World, where he later became city editor. He 
     joined the Jet staff in February 1953, two years after it was 
     founded by Publisher John H. Johnson, and played a major role 
     in the success of the weekly newsmagazine which is known 
     around the world.
       Johnson covered stories in Europe, Asian, and Africa. In 
     1972, he was among the journalist who accompanied President 
     Nixon to Russia, Poland, Austria and Iran. In 1979, he 
     accompanied U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young on a trade mission 
     tour of Africa.
       Johnson was cited repeatedly for his contributions to 
     journalism. He was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and 
     was associated with the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for 
     Nonviolent Social Change, the World Federation of Scottish 
     Societies, the DuSable Museum of African American History, 
     Alpha Kappa Delta, National Black Journalist Association, the 
     Chicago Headline Club, Operation Push, the NAACP and National 
     Urban League. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of 
     Dillard University and received honorary degrees from 
     Dillard, Morehouse College, Miles College and Texas College. 
     He was a member of University Church.
       He is survived by his wife Naomi (Nemi) Cole Johnson, their 
     three children, Bobbye Johnson, Attorney Janet Johnson-Vinion 
     and Robert III; two grandchildren, Chloe and Cole Johnson-
     Vinion; three brothers, Percy Johnson of Dayton, Ohio; 
     Washington Johnson and J.C. Johnson of Birmingham, Ala.; one 
     sister, Lena Pace of Birmingham, Ala. and a host of nieces, 
     nephews and friends.

     

                          ____________________