Biographical Text
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry James E. Johnson (June 5, 1917 - ), retired college professor, was born in Ber-wind (McDowell County), West Virginia, the sixth child of Henry Stuart and Kate Com Johnson. Johnson attended elementary and junior high school in Berwind, then graduated from Big Creek High School in War, West Virginia, in May, 1936. Johnson was married August 18,1945 at Blountville, Tennessee, to Vivian Virginia Sanders, daughter of Frank Howard and Anna Lee Sanders. The Johnsons have two daughters, Beth Anna Johnson (October 23, 1956 in Decatur, Alabama - ) and Dorthea Vivian Johnson (October 20, 1958 in Decatur, Alabama -). James went to Emory and Henry College, Emory, Virginia in 1938 and received his B.S. degree in chemistry (minor in mathematics) in 1942. In the fall of 1942 he began teaching chemistry at Davie County High School, Cooleemee, North Carolina. In 1943, he moved to West Virginia to teach in the McDowell county public school system. Johnson accepted a position as assistant professor of chemistry at Emory and Henry College of Virginia during 1945-46. In 1949 Johnson obtained his M.S. degree in chemistry (with a minor in physics) at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI&SU) in Blacksburg, Virginia. His master's thesis was on "Emission Spectroscopy of the Rare Earth Elements in Human Bone." Johnson remained at VPI&SU as an instructor of chemistry while working on his Ph.D. in chemistry (with a minor in physics) which he received in 1952. His doctoral dissertation was "A Study of the Shape Factor in Blends of Cellulose Nitrate." He then pursued advanced studies at the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, Brooklyn, New York, in 1953. In 1952, Johnson left teaching to become a research chemist with the Chem-strand Corporation, owned jointly by the American Vincase Corporation and Monsanto Chemical Company, and worked with the firm until 1962. His first position was in the research center at Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania; then in Decatur, Alabama; and then in the Durham, North Carolina division to work in fundamental physicochemical research. In 1962, Dr. Johnson reentered the teaching field as an associate professor at Appalachian State University, teaching chemistry and physics. He was awarded status as full professor of chemistry in 1965. While at Appalachian, Johnson directed the research of at least 10 students in partial fulfillment of the research requirement for the M.S. degree, all of whom successfully defended their work and were awarded the degree. During his professional career, Johnson wrote numerous articles and papers, some of which are listed below: "Molecular Weight Distribution in Cellulose Nitrate," in Modern Textile Journal, June and August, 1953. "A Quantitative Study of the Rare Earth Elements," invited paper to the Virginia Academy of Science at Roanoke, Virginia, 1948. "X-Ray Methods in Fiber Research," presented to the Atlanta X-ray Society at the Georgia School of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, 1958. "Amorphous Orientation in Polypropylene," presented to the North Carolina Academy of Science, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 1974. Various honors bestowed upon Johnson during his career include: membership in the Alpha Epsilon Delta Premedical Fraternity, in the Phi Lambda Epsilon Honorary Chemical Society, and in the Sigma Xi Research Society. He was also a member in the American Crystallographic Society, the American Chemical Society, the American Physical Society, the Virginia Academy of Science, the North Carolina Academy of Science and the Atlantic X-Ray Diffraction Society. Dr. Johnson retired from Appalachian on June 4,1982, and on September 2,1982, a research seminar in his honor was presented by his former students who had gone on to other graduate schools and received doctorates in their chosen fields of chemistry. Following this a testimonial dinner was given for him by Appalachian in recognition of his contributions over the period, 1962-1982. Johnson served as adjunct professor of chemistry at Emory and Henry College in 1983-1984. In retirement now, he enjoys travel, fishing, woodworking, writing, and occasional research activity in the chemistry department's x-ray diffraction lab at Appalachian. Sources: Appalachian State University files and personal correspondence. - Dr. Richard D. Howe and Mr. David N. Simmons
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