Remembering Richard (Dick) Johnson

Several hundred people gathered Dec. 30 to pay their final respects to Richard (Dick) Johnson, a dear friend and respected member of the community. His 88 years were filled with his accomplishments and service to community as well as presenting his "never met a stranger" personality to all who met him. He will be remembered.

Dick was born in Banning, Calif., the youngest of six children. His father, a veteran newsman, published the local Banning newspaper. He was to move to Tehachapi when the elder Johnson saw a chance to enlarge the circulation of the small town local newspaper, The Tehachapi News. Tehachapi, as is its way, welcomed the Johnsons who seemed to fit right in. Dick, even though a Junior in High School already found himself editor of the high school paper, The Warrior. The yearbook , then called the Annual, found his picture on the list of credits too. He was on the Student Council, President of the Student Body as well as being a member of Tehachapi High School's great Warrior football team . Even at that young age his dad let him write the sports news for the paper.

Press Night at the Tehachapi News involved the family working together to get it shipped to the right locations. Sarah Johnson, Dick's Mom, was an exact opposite from the acerbic Walter Johnson, but they made a good couple. She was a good Mom and together she and her husband raised a loving, caring family.

An enlistment in the Navy in 1946 brought him duty in French Morocco. He said it was good duty and looking back he was glad to have been sent there.

Dick and Joan were married in 1949 and their two children, Jana and Scott , enjoyed growing up in a neighborhood on A Street. Their neighbors were former classmates from school days. The second generation kids began to form life time friends as did their parents. It was a good time. Dick and Joan were able to celebrate their 67th year of marriage. When stopping by for a visit one would find them still a happy couple who certainly made the right decision when they said "I do" back in August of 1949.

Dick and his brother, Warren, later purchased the "News" from their parents and kept their fingers on the pulse of the city's activities for many years with the Sports Section always written by Dick. Later they finally sold to Bill Mead, another vintage newspaper man.

In Jon Hammond's article he said that Dick deserves an A in "life" and service to his community. Dick has made this town a better place in which to live. A pretty nice legacy.