The Johnson Family

Harold S. Johnson – HHS ‘47 – Holds a doctorate with twenty-two years as a university professor of both political science and racial and ethnic studies, author of a benchmark study of international plebiscites relating to national-self-determination; retiring from ten years as a U.S. government economist and strategic planner with the Bureau of Labor Statistics receiving the Commissioner’s Distinguished Service Award.  He volunteered with the Route 62 Reconstruction Committee, Imagine Hamburg, the Village Economic Development Committee, which he later chaired, and the Main Street Grant Committee. He holds a Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award. In June, 2009 he received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Board of Education. He has established a scholarship at St. Lawrence University to be awarded every four years to a resident of Erie County for which he received the G. Atwood Manley Society Achievement Award.  His resume includes ten years’ service in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Helen L. Johnson – HHS ’48 – Harold’s Twin.  An elementary school teacher with service in the Kenmore, Orchard Park, and Hamburg School Systems, totaling 35 years.  In retirement, she worked with the Fredonia College Foundation, assisting students who were primary-grade teaching interns in the Hamburg schools, endowing the Helen L. Johnson Legacy Scholarship, to be awarded to an elementary education student in the Hamburg Program.  She was a past Co-President of the Hamburg Central PTA, NEA representative for the Hamburg teachers, president of the Hamburg Teachers Association and vice-president of the Hamburg Alumni Association. She received a Friend of Education Award from the Hamburg Teachers Association and a New York State Distinguished Service Award.  She was a former president of the Hamburg Women’s Club and a member of the Hamburg Support Center, Hamburg Learning Center, Hamburg Branch of the Red Cross, Supervisory Committee of the Hamburg Central Credit Union, and the Hamburg Counseling Center.