Eugene I. Johnson

Hall of Fame Class of 1997

Eugene Johnson developed the Metroplex Assembly Program which used both radio and television in California and St. Louis to stimulate discussion of current issues and problems. Between 1952 and 1956, there were 200 Listening Posts registered with the Community Education Program of San Bernardino Valley. During 1956-63, more than 600 Viewing Posts registered with the Civic Education Center of Washington University, which was directed by Dr. Johnson. As a result of widespread favorable publicity received by the Metroplex Program, he wrote some 20 magazine articles and chapters in two books, as well as authoring several books of his own. During his tenure at Washington University, he also served as Co-Director, with Charles Frankel of Columbia University, of a year-long seminar for Goucher College in Maryland, which was then celebrating its 75th anniversary. Man and the Modern City was the book which resulted from that effort. In all, he worked with more than 20 universities or national organizations to help relate continuing education to discussions and searches for solutions of contemporary problems.

For five years Dr. Johnson directed seminars on community organizations for the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He was associated with AEA/USA in various roles: as a participant in the First Annual Conference in San Diego, as Co-Chairman of the 1955 Conference in Cincinnati, as Vice President (1961-62) and member of the Executive Committee, and, finally, as Executive Director (1963-69), resigning to become Professor of Adult Education at the University of Georgia in Athens. During his tenure as Executive Director he was responsible for moving AEA's headquarters from Chicago to Washington, D. C.

Dr. Johnson joined the faculty of the University of Georgia in December 1968 and retired in March 1978. In these ten years, he served as major professor to about twenty doctoral graduates and on the committees of more than fifty. He left this rich legacy to the Department of Adult Education: respect for the students as professional colleagues, responsible public service, and teaching as an art form.