Gerald Eugene Johnson

On March 16th, 1937 Jerry was born in Pittsburg, Kansas, a small town in the far southeast corner of Kansas to Vern and Berle Johnson. Because his father followed the construction industry, he lived in fourteen different homes in seven midwestern states before moving to Spokane, WA on March 1, 1947, while in the third grade. He attended Wilson Grade School and Lewis and Clark High School, where he was very active in scouting and playing the baritone horn in the All-City Band and LC bands. He didn't miss a single Junior Toastmasters meeting in his four years at LC and was president of the group his senior year.

He loved playing all sports and watching the Spokane Fliers Hockey and Spokane Indians Baseball teams. In the 6th thru 8th grades, he led his classmates in forming after-school tackle football and hardball baseball teams to play neighboring schools and other class teams at Wilson School. Jerry was best friends with his springer spaniel, Freckles.

Jerry kept an eye on his older brother and many of Vern Jr's accomplishments. They were good deeds and jerry learned early on to set goals and work hard. During holidays and weekends, you could find him working on one of his dad's construction projects. He was active in many school program activities and clubs. Continuing his scouting and music interest, he did considerable hiking and backpacking and played in the school band. He graduated in the top ten percent of his senior class. At Lewis and Clark, Jerry prepared for his eventual acceptance in Architectural Engineering at WSC by taking all the math and science courses offered, as well as Mechanical and Architectural Drawing.

The first thing Jerry did at WSC was pledge Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He was very active in intramural sports, a running back on the Beta intramural championship football team and winner of first place medal in the 137 lb. weight class bracket in wrestling. He studied hard and worked hard, and his efforts paid off. He was awarded memberships in several Honor Societies and in his senior year was awarded Outstanding Senior of the thirteen Northwest Beta chapters, Outstanding WSC Senior, Outstanding Military Student, and the Outstanding Student of the College of Engineering.

In 1960, on the day of graduation from the five-year course at WSU, (the first graduating class after WSC became WSU) Jerry got his diploma, his Second Lieutenant of the Army Pin, and notification that he was Vice President of his dad's newly formed Vern W Johnson & Sons Construction Company.

One week later he married Paula Corcoran, lived in Pullman, and managed the completion of two homes in Pullman that he had designed while in school. One year later, after working on a VWJ dormitory project in Pullman, he began his government required eight-year obligation to his country by reporting for six months duty at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, was extended for a year of active duty because of the Berlin Wall Crisis and he got back to Pullman in September of 1962. He was superintendent on a US government project, which he completed in April of 1963.

He then moved to Spokane and began his duties as Construction Manager and Head of Estimating at Vern W Johnson and Sons Construction Company. Notable projects were Washington Trust Bank in downtown Spokane (1973) and WSU Stadium remodel in Pullman (1979), after which he was awarded the WSU Alumni Achievement Award.

Jerry participated in a variety of activities and organizations in Spokane, including the JCs, AGC, SEA, Forum, and Prosperity Club. He greatly enjoyed golf, which he picked up while in the service, backpack camping, and traveling to all but 3 of the 50 states.

As a Spokane Central Lions member for over 60 years, he participated in a myriad of Spokane area betterment projects. He truly loved the city and its surroundings.

In 1980, he married his second wife Floreen (Punky), created Turnkey Incorporated Contractors and continued his successful life in construction.