Johnson graduated from West Branch High School and attended Iowa State University before enlisting in the Army in 1942. He served with the 89th Infantry Division, Third Army, during World War II. After his war service he was involved with various agriculture related business ventures in the West Branch area, many of which eventually became a part of West Branch Farm Supply, Inc. He served in many prominent service and political positions including: president of the West Branch Chamber of Commerce (1947-1948); West Branch city councilman (1948-1949); Iowa Commander of the American Legion (1952-1953); Chairman of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission (1958); member of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission (1959-1960); president of the West Branch P.T.A. (1960); National Commander of The American Legion (1964-65); Administrator of Veterans Affairs (1969-1974, appointed by Nixon); Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Domestic and International Business (1974-1977, appointed by Pres. Ford); President and trustee of the Herbert Hoover Library Association (until 1983); chief of Staff for Senator Roger W. Jepsen (1983-1985); Executive Director of the National Credit Union Administration (1985-1993); president, 89th Infantry Division Society. Johnson was honored with several military awards, Iowan of the Year (1965) by the Iowa Radio and TV Broadcasters Association and West Branch Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Citizen Award (1980). In 1968 he made an unsuccesful bid for the Republican candidate for governor of Iowa.
From the description of Papers, 1952-1998. 1952-1998. (Iowa Sate Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 56408809
