[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 18, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN MEMORY OF LORAN JOHNSON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. MIKE ROSS

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 18, 2007

  Mr. ROSS. Madame Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of my 
friend Loran Johnson of Warren, Arkansas, who passed away April 6, 
2007.
  Mr. Johnson was committed to making the state of Arkansas a better 
place to live through his hard work and dedication to his community. He 
is noted as the founder of the Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival 
because of its start in 1956 while he was manager of the Warren Chamber 
of Commerce. He also spent his time promoting Southeast Arkansas with 
the Southeast Arkansas Economic Development District and the Bradley 
County Industrial Development Commission.
  Mr. Johnson served in the Navy during World War II and received his 
Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arkansas at 
Monticello (UAM) upon returning. He then taught in Swifton and Warren 
where he also sponsored the Future Farmers of America (FFA). Because of 
his work with the FFA students there is now a Loran Johnson Endowed 
Scholarship Fund at UAM for early childhood education majors.
  Mr. Johnson was a devoted family man and a model civic leader. He was 
a member of the Arkansas Cattleman's Association, the Bradley County 
Retired Teacher's Association, the American Legion and he served as a 
delegate to the Arkansas Silver-Haired Legislature. He was a member of 
the First Baptist Church of Warren where he served as the program 
chairman for the Brotherhood Men's Group.
  I send my deepest condolences to his wife, Madge Bryant Johnson; his 
children Wayne Johnson of Warren, LoraNelle Humphrey of Stuttgart and 
Camille Johnson Lide of Little Rock; and his grandsons, nieces and 
nephews. Mr. Johnson will be missed by his family, his church, his 
community and all those who knew him and called him a friend. I will 
continue to keep his family in my thoughts and prayers.

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