Following a courageous battle with cancer, Johnson died peacefully at home in Windermere, Fla. He was born on June 21, 1947 in East St. Louis, Ill. He attended Rock Junior High East St. Louis High School, North Carolina Central University, and Northwestern University.
In 1974, he married Elizabeth “Libby” Moore, and through their union they had two children, Michael Jr. and Paul. Johnson worked as a human resources executive at RCA, Martin Marietta (now Lockheed Martin), Amoco, and Williams Companies. He retired from his last position at Williams as senior vice president and chief administrative officer and chairman of the board for the Williams Foundation in 2008. Shortly after retiring, Johnson formed J&A Group, an executive coaching and business consulting firm.
Many who knew Johnson know that he dedicated himself to living a life marked by impact, faith, and courageous values-driven leadership. He served the community in numerous positions. The list of his service includes as a former or current member of the board of directors for the Amoco Foundation, CenterPoint Energy Corporation, Bethune Cookman University, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma, Buffalo Wild Wings Corporation, vice chair at North Carolina Central University, former chair for the Board of Trustees at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa, QuikTrip Corporation, Tulsa Community College Foundation, Tulsa Community Foundation, and board chair of the Foundation for Tulsa Public Schools among others. He also served as chair for the Metropolitan Orlando Urban League Board, and as a board member for the Orange County Branch of the NAACP.
Additionally, Florida’s Governor Bob Graham appointed him to serve on the Orlando Aviation Authority. His numerous awards include the Boy Scouts of America Whitney M. Young Award, Foundation for Tulsa Public Schools’ Excellence in Education Award, Martin Luther King Commemorative Society’s Keeping the Dream Alive Award, National Black College Alumni Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, North Carolina Central University Distinguished Alumni Recognition Award, Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame’s Community Excellence Award, Oklahoma State University Community ICON Award, Oklahoma State University Inclusion Leadership Award, Savoy magazine’s Most Influential Black Corporate Directors, Tulsa Community College Vision Award, Tulsa Historical Society’s Hall of Fame, Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education’s Light Keeper’s Award, and the 100 Black Men of Tulsa Community Service Award to name a few. He has been a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity since 1982 and served as Sire Archon of Epsilon Iota Boule in Tulsa. He is also a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
Johnson and his wife were recognized by Bethune Cookman University with the naming of the Michael and Libby Johnson Center for Civic Engagement along with being awarded an honorary doctoral degree. The center is the central meeting point on campus for important college events according to its website. He also has an endowed scholarship for students attending his alma mater.
Johnson is survived by his wife, sons, sister, nieces, and nephews. A funeral service will be held on July 20 at 10 a.m. CT at St Luke’s Methodist Church, Orlando, Fla. The funeral service will be livestreamed at: https://vimeo.com/event/3573693
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to benefit students at Bethune-Cookman University and North Carolina Central University. Donations may also be made online at http://linktr.ee/mpjohnson777
For mail to Bethune Cookman University, please make checks payable and mail to: Bethune-Cookman University Office of Institutional Advancement, 640 Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd., Daytona Beach, Fla. 32114. Please write on the memo line “Michael P. Johnson Memorial Scholarship.”
For mail to NCCU, make checks payable and mail to: NCCU Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 19363, Durham, N.C. 27707. Please write on the memo line “Michael P. Johnson.”
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