Publisher John H. Johnson Inducted Into Arkansas Business Hall of Fame - first African American to join the exclusive group - Brief Article

Ebony, May, 2001

EBONY Publisher John H. Johnson, who made business and media history by rising from poverty and the welfare rolls to the pinnacle of the business world, was inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame at a Little Rock ceremony attended by the business, educational and political leaders of the state.

The first Black inducted into the exclusive group, Johnson, who was born in a one-room house in Arkansas City, joins a who's who of the business world, including past honorees Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart, Don J. Tyson of Tyson Foods and William T. Dillard Sr. of Dillard's Department Stores.

The Hall of Fame, which is sponsored by the Sam M. Walton College of Business Administration at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, honors major business leaders who have "stood the test of time, serving their businesses, their communities, and the state of Arkansas." Honored with the Johnson Publishing Company founder-chairman in the 2001 class of inductees were Col. Thomas H. Barton of Lion Oil Company, William E. Darby of National Old Line Insurance Company, and J.B. and Johnelle Hunt of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Johnelle Hunt was the first woman inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Dr. Doyle Z. Williams, dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business Administration, cited Johnson for succeeding against the odds and "persistence in setting the standards for others to follow." Johnson's achievements as founder-chairman and CEO of Johnson Publishing Company, the world's No. 1 Black-owned publishing company, and Fashion Fair Cosmetics, the No. 1 Black-owned cosmetics company in the world, provided, the sponsors said, "a stealing example oF what can be accomplished through vigor; mettle, vision, and persistence."

In a moving response, which brought a standing ovation, Johnson discussed the lessons he learned in Arkansas from an indomitable mother--the late Gertrude Johnson Williams--who taught him that dedication, hard work and tenacity will overcome almost any obstacle. To the delight of the audience of more than 6(X), he recounted concrete instances of how he used those lessons to build his economic empire.

A group of African-American students at Sam Walton College were among the special guests at the ceremony. The Sam M. Walton College of Business Administration is the largest business school in the state with all enrollment of more than 3,000 students.

One of the highlights of the dinner was the announcement that the John H. Johnson Cultural and Entrepreneurial Center has been established at the Johnson birthplace in Arkansas City and will be operated by the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff as a permanent testimonial to his legacy.

Honoree is congratulated by his wife, Eunice W. Johnson, secretary-treasurer of Johnson Publishing Company and producer-director of the Ebony Fashion Fair, and their daughter, Linda Johnson Rice, president and chief operating officer of Johnson Publishing Company.

Dr. John A. White (below left), chancellor of the University of Arkansas System, addresssed the dinner guests. EBONY magazine Executive Editor Lerone Bennett: Jr. discussed the historic event with Dr. Doyle Z. Williams (below, r.), dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business Administration.

Joining Fashion Fair Cosmetics (FFC) Senior Vice President J. Lance Clarke (above, c.) are (l. to r.) Melanie Thompson, FFC National Trainer; Bessie Atwater, FFC Account Executive; Teresa Gipson, FFC Account Executive; Bettie Henderson, FFC Account Coordinator; and Beverly Warren, FFC Account Executive. Publisher Johnson is congratulated (far left) by JPC Vice President of Promotion Lydia Davis Eddy and Raymond Grady (left), Executive Aide to the publisher President Rice (below, e.) poses with Walton College students (l. to r.) Carmen Keaton, Sherita Turner, Gideon Banks, Tiffany McHenry, Sheronda James, Krystal Hardy, Tannikia Holloway, Nastoshia McGough and Quincy Stanley.

Arkansas University System Chancellor John A. White (l,) and Dr. Lawrence Davis Jr., chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, discuss plans for the Johnson Center with the publisher and his wife. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will operate the John H. Johnson Cultural and Entrepreneurial Center.

Addressing the audience, publisher recalls wit and wisdom of his mother, Gertrude Johnson Williams (left), who raised him in Mississippi River town of Arkansas City. Mother and son left Arkansas in July 1933 and settled in Chicago, where he started his first magazine, Negro Digest, in 1942.

One of the major sponsors of the Johnson Center is Robert S. Moore Jr., director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, who is pictured with his wife Beverly. Moore, who is the son of a former Desha County (Arkansas City) sheriff, was active in the interracial movement that led to a legislative measure authorizing the Johnson Center.