[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 114 (Monday, July 27, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO OLLIE JOHNSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 27, 2009

  Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a former 
member of the United States armed services, a civic leader, avid 
golfer, and devoted husband, father and grandfather, and one of my best 
friends. Mr. Ollie Johnson of Columbia, South Carolina passed away on 
Thursday, July 16, 2009 at the age of 73, after an extended battle with 
cancer. He has left a tremendous legacy, and his contributions deserve 
recognition.
  Ollie was born on July 3, 1936, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Mack and Emma 
Johnson. He attended area Catholic schools and graduated from St. 
Peters Academy in Dallas, Texas. At an early age he was baptized and 
entered into a lifetime affiliation with the Catholic Church. He 
entered the Air Force in 1954 and served honorably for 21 years. His 
active duty military service included assignments in England and the 
Philippines. He served stateside in Arizona, Nebraska and Texas, and 
was honorably discharged while serving in Charleston, South Carolina.
  While on active duty, he matriculated at Thomas Edison College and 
earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Education. After 
his separation from active duty, Ollie continued his education earning 
a Master of Education degree from Southern Illinois University.
  In October 1957, he married Barbara Jackson and they became the proud 
parents of three children: two sons and one daughter, and were 
subsequently blessed with four grandchildren.
  Ollie and his family moved to Columbia, South Carolina where he began 
25 years of service in state government. During his tenure, he was 
employed at the Commission on Aging and became one of our state's most 
diligent advocates for aged and served as a delegate to a White House 
conference on aging.
  Ollie believed strongly in civic responsibility, community service, 
and charitable works. He demonstrated these beliefs daily with his 
active participation in various civic groups while serving in different 
capacities: South Carolina Federal Credit Union, Supervisory Committee; 
Credit Union League, Fort Jackson Golf Club's Advisory Council. He 
served as President of the State Sertoma Club, and Carolina Sunshine, 
and was a member of the Board of Directors of Senior Catering and the 
Elder Care Trust Fund.
  Ollie and I were frequent golf partners, and we joined with other 
golfing buddies to turn our passion for golf into support for various 
causes. One of them was a tournament known originally as the Palmetto 
Institute Classic to raise college scholarships for deserving students.
  When one of our founding buddies died suddenly of a ruptured aorta at 
the age of 56, we renamed the tournament the Rudolph Canzater Memorial 
Classic in his honor. The Canzater Classic has contributed more than 
$600,000 to college students since its inception. This year's Canzater 
Classic will be held for the 19th time on August 8-9, and Ollie's 
presence will be sorely missed. A few years ago we started holding a 
Health Fair in conjunction with the tournament and when it is held next 
week, we will rename the Health Fair in Ollie Johnson's honor.
  Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in celebrating 
the life of Ollie Johnson for his service to his country and his 
community. I will forever feel indebted to him and thank Ollie's family 
for allowing him to share his talents and his gifts with us. Our 
country and community are better for his service.

                          ____________________