[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 132 (Thursday, October 4, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1798-E1799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       MEMORIAL TO H. NORMAN JOHNSON, SAN BERNARDINO CIVIC LEADER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 4, 2001

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to pay 
tribute to H. Norman Johnson, a lifelong civic leader in my hometown of 
San Bernardino, California. Mr. Johnson, who was the owner and operator 
of Fourth Street Rock Crusher in San Bernardino, died on September 19 
at the age of 73.
  Norm Johnson was the old-fashioned kind of civic leader, one who was 
deeply involved in his community because he loved it and wanted to make 
it a better place. He never held public office, but could always be 
counted on to work as a volunteer in the service of San Bernardino. He 
helped convince voters to pass an improvement tax that has made our 
streets safe, headed up a drive to provide underprivileged children 
with dental care and even campaigned to save the historic whistle at 
the local Santa Fe Railway depot yard.
  Much of what Norm Johnson did came with no publicity. He donated all 
of the concrete for an addition to the local Lighthouse for the Blind, 
and made a similar donation for an addition to Santa Claus Inc., a 
local charity. Most of the Little League dugouts in the Inland Empire 
were provided and poured at no expense by Fourth Street Rock Crusher--
and many of those teams were sponsored by the company, as well. When 
Yucaipa High School needed new volleyball courts, 200 tons of materials 
were donated by Norm Johnson and his company. When any church called, 
materials were supplied and delivered at no expense.
  Norm Johnson worked closely with local schools long before it became 
fashionable for companies to ``sponsor'' a school. He ensured local 
libraries stayed in business. When San Bernardino Unified School 
District opened the new Arroyo Valley High School in August, Mr. 
Johnson advanced the city the funds needed to complete street 
improvements around the school.
  A graduate of my alma mater, San Bernardino High, Mr. Johnson went to 
the University of Arizona to study business and engineering. He 
returned to take over Fourth Street Rock Crusher when his father became 
ill, and was in the office nearly every day since. His employees 
remember him as a tough, solid man who was unswerving in his loyalty to 
his company family. City officials will remember him for his insistence 
that they

[[Page E1799]]

must meet his standards in supporting San Bernardino. Please join me in 
expressing our condolences to his wife, Merrily, and three daughters: 
Christi Bulot, JayAnn Stanley and Debra Ann Borden, and in praising 
Norm Johnson's dedication to his city and community.

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