Longtime board member Paul Johnson fondly remembered

Paul Johnson, Grand Valley State University's second-longest-serving board member and a stalwart supporter of education, has died at the age of 83. Johnson passed away the morning of December 18 in Grand Haven, where he has resided for most of his life.

Johnson served on Grand Valley's Board of Trustees (then called the Board of Control) for 26 years, first appointed by Gov. George Romney in 1968, and reappointed by Govs. William Milliken and James Blanchard. Elected board chairman twice, Johnson also founded and served for 10 years as the first president of the Grand Valley Foundation, the university's nonprofit fundraising organization. He stepped down from the board when his term expired at the end of 1994.

Johnson served four years as lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy during World War II and returned to Grand Haven in 1945 to become co-owner of Dake, a hydraulic-press manufacturer. Dake later became a subsidiary of JSJ Corp., where Johnson served as chairman of the board. He was well known in West Michigan for his philanthropic activities.

Grand Valley had only been open to students for five years when Johnson joined its board in 1968. He helped lead the college through decades of expansion and enrollment growth and, in 1987, its transition to a full-fledged university. In 1988 he led the campaign for construction of the Eberhard Center, the first building on Grand Valley's Grand Rapids campus.

'His legacy is long,' said Matt McLogan, vice president for University Relations. 'Paul Johnson played a key role in helping Grand Valley become the university it is today.'

Before he left the board, Johnson was presented an honorary doctorate of humanities by then-President Arend D. Lubbers. Lubbers will present the eulogy at Johnson's memorial service. Johnson is the brother-in-law of Dorothy Johnson, the current chair of Grand Valley's Board of Trustees. He is also survived by his wife, Charlotte, and two adult daughters.

Visitation services for Johnson will be held Monday, December 22, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at Vanzantwick Bartels & Kammeraad Funeral Home, located at 620 Washington Ave. in Grand Haven. The funeral will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church, 508 Franklin St. in Grand Haven.