Oral history with Mr. Charles Johnson, Jr.

              Oral history with Mr. Charles Johnson, Jr.
This oral history is provided through a cooperative project of University of Southern Mississippi Libraries and USM's Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage.
Funding provided by a National Leadership Grant for Libraries from the Institute for Museum and Library Services
The transcript is presented here for reference purposes only. Interviews in this collection are protected by copyright. PERMISSION TO PUBLISH MUST BE REQUESTED from the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage. Please call ( 601) 266- 4574 for more information.
Biography
Charles Allen Johnson, Jr. ( Charlie), a native of Amory, graduated from Amory High School, serving as senior class president. After receiving a degree in Science from Mississippi State University, Johnson returned to his home high school as science teacher. Three years later he moved to Canton where, over a fifteen - year period, he was science teacher, high school principal and superintendent. The Canton Lions Club presented Mr. Johnson a merit service award during his tenure there.
In 1951 Mr. Johnson accepted the position of school superintendent of the Starkville Public Schools. Here he also taught education classes at Mississippi State on a part- time basis. The Starkville Jaycees presented Johnson an award for service, and the city's Exchange Club ceremoniously presented him the club's " Golden Deeds Award." It was during the Starkville years that an All Superior Band was developed, a tradition that is still carried on. In addition to high academic achievement and successful student college performance, the Starkville schools enjoyed championships in basketball, football, track and baseball. Merit Scholars and science award winners were much in evidence.
In 1965 Mr. Johnson was selected to be the Executive Secretary of the Mississippi Education Association ( MEA). He served in this capacity for ten years. The most notable accomplishment of the association was the successful " You Decide" legislative effort that resulted in the passage of the Minimum Program of 1969. This resulted in a thousand dollar across the board raise for teachers, increments for additional training and experience, the establishment of the supportive services section of the law, the lowering by ten percent the average attendance for a teacher unit and an increase in a school district's administrative fund. Changes represented a forty percent increase in the annual legislative appropriation for public schools. During Johnson's tenure, membership in the MEA moved up to fifteen thousand and an improved organizational structure was developed.
Charlie retired from the MEA in June 1975, and after a restless few months, responded to wife Reba's urging by accepting the presidency of Chamberlain Hunt Academy, a Presbyterian boarding school in Port Gibson. He held that position for three years.
Reba, a native of Aberdeen, and Charlie were married in 1937. The couple has been blessed with four sons, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. Mrs. Johnson became active in the professional and social life of the MEA. Statewide, she is well known and is greeted with affection wherever she goes. mus- coh. johnsonc. doc Page 1 of 29