Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson was born on April 3, 1949 in Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina to Adolphus and Ermine Johnson. Johnson graduated from Haut Gap High School on John’s Island, South Carolina in 1966 and received his B.S. degree from Benedict College in 1970. He attended Howard University School of Law, obtaining his J.D. degree in 1975. Johnson served in the United States Army Reserves as a combat medic during the Vietnam War.
In 1975, Johnson worked as an attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel with the Internal Revenue Service until 1984. For the next three years, he served as a law professor at North Carolina Central University’s School of Law. Johnson then became the Deputy State Attorney, managing the day-to-day operations of the prosecutor’s office, before becoming the State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County, Maryland. In this position, Johnson recruited a diverse, highly motivated and well-trained staff of prosecutors, investigators, administrators and support personnel.
In December 2002, Johnson was elected the sixth County Executive of Prince George’s County. He made history shortly after being elected to office by increasing the county’s budget by more than $1 billion. Johnson’s budget priorities focused on education and public safety. He increased the school funding by over $100 million and is also responsible for building the largest police force in the county’s history and saving the county’s hospital system. Johnson was re-elected to a second term in 2006.
Johnson has served as a board member of the Prince George’s County United Way and the Coalition of Concerned Black Christian Men. He has received the NAACP President Award and the National Forum of Black Public Administrators’ First Leadership Award.
Johnson resides in Mitchellville, Maryland with his wife, Leslie. They have three adult children.
Johnson was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on April 26, 2007.
A2007.163
Male
4/26/2007
Johnson
Haut Gap High School
Howard University School of Law
Benedict College
Edith L. Frierson Elementary School
Jack
Wadmalaw Island
JOH30
Fall, Spring
South Carolina
Hilton Head, South Carolina
It All Works Out.

District of Columbia
4/3/1949
Washington
USA
Rice
State deputy attorney and county government official Jack Johnson (1949 - ) was elected County Chief Executive of Prince George’s County, Maryland.
AXA Financial
North Carolina Central University
Internal Revenue Service
Prince George's County (MD)
Prince George's County Executive’s Office
Red
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647631">Tape: 1 Slating of Jack Johnson's interview</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647632">Tape: 1 Jack Johnson lists his favorites</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647633">Tape: 1 Jack Johnson describes his mother's family background, pt. 1</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647634">Tape: 1 Jack Johnson describes his mother's family background, pt. 2</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647635">Tape: 1 Jack Johnson describes Edisto Island, South Carolina in the early 20th century</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647636">Tape: 1 Jack Johnson talks about his mother's education</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647637">Tape: 1 Jack Johnson describes his family's land in Edisto Island, South Carolina</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647638">Tape: 1 Jack Johnson recalls his mother's adoption of a Haitian refugee</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647639">Tape: 1 Jack Johnson describes his father's family background</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647640">Tape: 2 Jack Johnson describes his paternal great-grandfather</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647641">Tape: 2 Jack Johnson talks about his great-uncle's nickname</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647642">Tape: 2 Jack Johnson recalls spending time with his paternal grandfather</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647643">Tape: 2 Jack Johnson describes his father's occupation</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647644">Tape: 2 Jack Johnson talks about his father's education</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647645">Tape: 2 Jack Johnson lists his siblings</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647646">Tape: 2 Jack Johnson recalls how his parents met</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647647">Tape: 2 Jack Johnson describes the sights and sounds of his childhood</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647648">Tape: 2 Jack Johnson describes his earliest childhood memories</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647649">Tape: 2 Jack Johnson remembers his home on Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647650">Tape: 3 Jack Johnson describes the Gullah language and culture</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647651">Tape: 3 Jack Johnson recalls listening to the radio as a young boy</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647652">Tape: 3 Jack Johnson talks about traditional Gullah foods</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647653">Tape: 3 Jack Johnson describes Rockville Elementary School in Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647654">Tape: 3 Jack Johnson recalls starting a year early at Rockville Elementary School</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647655">Tape: 3 Jack Johnson remembers his teachers at Rockville Elementary School</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647656">Tape: 3 Jack Johnson describes himself as a student</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647657">Tape: 3 Jack Johnson recalls attending Haut Gap High School in Johns Island, South Carolina</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647658">Tape: 4 Jack Johnson describes his activities at Haut Gap High School in Johns Island, South Carolina</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647659">Tape: 4 Jack Johnson recalls his decision to attend Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647660">Tape: 4 Jack Johnson remembers avoiding the U.S. Army draft</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647661">Tape: 4 Jack Johnson describes his experiences at Benedict College</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647662">Tape: 4 Jack Johnson recalls Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647663">Tape: 4 Jack Johnson remembers the guest speakers at Benedict College</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647664">Tape: 4 Jack Johnson recalls working for Equitable Life Assurance Society of America</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647665">Tape: 4 Jack Johnson remembers joining the U.S. Army Reserve</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647666">Tape: 4 Jack Johnson recalls befriending a white South Carolinian in the U.S. Army</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647667">Tape: 4 Jack Johnson talks about his decision to attend Howard University School of Law</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647668">Tape: 5 Jack Johnson describes his experiences at Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C.</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647669">Tape: 5 Jack Johnson remembers Howard University president James Cheek</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647670">Tape: 5 Jack Johnson remembers his classmates at Howard University School of Law</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647671">Tape: 5 Jack Johnson recalls working for the Internal Revenue Service in Atlanta, Georgia</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647672">Tape: 5 Jack Johnson remembers joining the Internal Revenue Service's national office</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647673">Tape: 5 Jack Johnson describes his work in partnerships and corporation transactions</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647674">Tape: 5 Jack Johnson talks about challenges for African American lawyers at the Internal Revenue Service</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647675">Tape: 5 Jack Johnson remembers teaching at North Carolina Central University School of Law in Durham, North Carolina</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647676">Tape: 5 Jack Johnson recalls working in admissions at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647677">Tape: 6 Jack Johnson describes his wife and children</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647678">Tape: 6 Jack Johnson recalls serving as the deputy to the state's attorney in Prince George's County, Maryland</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647679">Tape: 6 Jack Johnson talks about running for state's attorney</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647680">Tape: 6 Jack Johnson remembers addressing police brutality in Prince George's County, Maryland</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647681">Tape: 6 Jack Johnson recalls his success as state's attorney of Prince George's County, Maryland</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647682">Tape: 6 Jack Johnson describes his concept of a livable community, pt. 1</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647683">Tape: 6 Jack Johnson describes his concept of a livable community, pt. 2</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647684">Tape: 6 Jack Johnson talks about the opportunities and challenges in Prince George's County, Maryland</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647685">Tape: 6 Jack Johnson recalls being scrutinized by the media</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647686">Tape: 6 Jack Johnson remembers his family's Sunday traditions</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647687">Tape: 6 Jack Johnson reflects upon his life</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647688">Tape: 7 Jack Johnson shares a message for future generations</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/647689">Tape: 7 Jack Johnson describes how he would like to be remembered</a>
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6$6
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