Ward Johnson ’62
Brother • Class Of 1962
Ward Johnson
Colonel, United States Air Force
Ward Johnson: My Big Brother, Team Mate, Friend, and Adviser
I was a quiet and naive farm boy when Ward took me on as a project. He helped me to grow into a fairly confident "frat" boy. We were team mates on the Clarkson basketball team (not a great record my sophomore year, but we were competitive - lost at least 5 games in OT) and for one year on the lacrosse team. Ward was great at face-offs in lacrosse and taught me a lot about the game I had never played before.
Probably the best thing that Ward did for me was to talk me into not breaking up with my girl fiend because of our religious differences. He convinced me that the conflict was not reason enough to separate and that it would work it's way out in the long run. We did not break up, were married 6 days after graduation, and celebrated our 48th anniversary this year!! Ward was not able to attend our wedding, but I was living in Indiana when he got married in Kewanee, Illinois - I believe in 1964. I was in his wedding party and I remember that the families were so gracious to us. They took care of our baby and even flew in a lobster for my wife for the rehearsal dinner. It was Friday night, they were serving steak, and respected my wife being catholic.
Ward could be somewhat of a rebel at times, but, always came out ahead because of his winning smile and great attitude. His car was having transmission problems and would not go into any gear except reverse. He didn't want to spend the money to have it towed to the garage-across the river from 30 Elm street towards the hill campus- so he waited until after midnight and drove the car in reverse the mile plus to the garage. Only one example of his genius!!
Carl Putnam ’63
Ward Johnson: My “Big” Little Brother - On Responsibility/Achievement
I almost missed getting Ward for my little brother. He was initially chosen at the fraternity meeting by a member who selected before me, so I had picked another pledge. I was happily surprised when the member who had picked Ward came up and suggested a trade. I had spent a lot of time talking with Ward at the smokers and had picked him early as one of the guys I wanted to see pledge. He was one of the friendliest and most engaging freshmen I met. As this was the year the school started placing a limit of 20 pledges per class in a fraternity, it was hard to predict who was going to make it. Several others many of us wanted, didn’t get enough votes because of the 20 limit. Unlike earlier years you didn’t need to get just approval, you had to be in the top 20. And since you could only give out 20 invitations we had to be sure of those we selected would pledge Lambda. Ward made it on all counts.
Ward had this easy, very personable smile, he had a tough time holding it back. The night the pledges were introduced to their big brothers, he was standing at attention before the Sargent-at-arms trying to keep a straight face. As was custom, the Sargent and members around him were giving him the business. A big smile, he couldn’t contain, broke out on his face and all the guys started screaming at him. “You think this is a joke? What are you some kind of smart a**? Are you responsible enough to become a Lambda? etc, etc” After the customary one smack introduction with the paddle by me, we went out to talk on the porch. Ward was really shook up, he thought everyone had gotten the wrong impression of him. After explaining what happened was a normal reaction to his smiling; that the fraternity wanted him, that’s why he was selected to pledge, the smile returned and never left. He broke out in smiles often while going through the hazing period. “Irresponsible” was the exaggerated tag thrown at him because of that first pledge session. How ironic that Ward should devote his life’s work serving his country and in the Strategic Air Command on 24/7 alert status protecting the country during the cold war. I’d say that was pretty damn responsible.
Ward also did a real craftsman like job making his paddle for me. He started with a fine old oak table leaf which I think came from a table at home. His workmanship I thought was exceptional. I take it to all our reunions so a little bit of Ward is always there.
After Ward finished pledging in his sophomore year (my senior), the year seemed to whiz by. I did manage to see Ward up at Clarkson two more times during Spring Weekends after graduation. I remember him introducing me to his “little brother” between mugs of beer. We lost contact after talking on the phone just prior to his marriage. Fast forward 35 years later, i found out in the Clarkson magazine he had retired from the service and was living in Texas. We made plans to meet in Potsdam for his 40th reunion. Rooming in the dorms, what a great weekend it was catching up on lost time. And add golfing to his list of accomplishments. I understand from Julie, when stationed in Great Britain, he was a regular at St. Andrews. The best reunion golf partner I ever had; thanks to Ward, we won shirts and a Clarkson duffle bag, but mostly it was just sharing that special time together. We had hoped to do it more often. It wasn’t to be. There is a lot more to say about Ward. He was called on to inspect Air Force 1 and was one of the few privileged to fly in a high altitude U-2 spy plane. I know how difficult and special it is to be promoted up to Full “bird” Colonel in the military. Ward, little brother, I am really proud of you and what you did with your life. Fly High little brother.
Paul Zolin ’59
Ward Johnson: On Lacrosse - A Recollection of Ward on Defense
I can recall Coach Jack Hantz trying to pep us up prior to my first varsity lacrosse game with Syracuse. Most of us recall he stuttered when he spoke, and especially when he was excited.
He walked around the locker room (at Syracuse) and told us how good our team was, and what we had to do to try and contain the Syracuse attack (most of their kids were from Freeport and Garden City on Long Island). He said their attack men were actually worried about our defense. He pointed to Ward and Dick Holmberg, and said, "I jusst left tthhe Syracuse kkkoach, who said, whhere the hell ddid you get those two? They are ttthe biggest defense men I've seen since I started kkkoaching"!!!
We lost 23-3 that day, but Ward sure did kick some butt and helped keep the score below 30-something.
Jim Wood ’64
Ward was a bridge fanatic. More important he was an easy going, neat guy, easy to be with.
Robert “Soup” Campbell ’61
Ward Johnson: On Hell Week
During hell week for the Lambda/DU class of 1963, we came up with an idea to get back at our more senior brothers; those who had made our lives miserable for the entire week. We chipped in and bought 30 to 40 live chickens from a local farmer.
We waited patiently until all those "older" brothers were tucked in and fast asleep in the attic of the house. We fed those chickens some good sweet chocolate and proceeded to carry them up the stairs to the entrance of our sleeping quarters. Once there.we shook the bag of live chickens enough so they were ready to attack whoever and whatever was present. We opened the neck of the bag to let every last one of those chickens out, ran down the attic stairs, locked the door so no one could exit, and walked down to the basement for a beer. We immediately heard screaming, screeching, yelling sounds from the attic, just enough to know that a few of those brothers were already quite pissed-off and ready for revenge. As they escaped, Holmberg and Ward spotted me and began to chase me around Potsdam in a futile attempt to catch me and then kill me. I made it! The next few weeks in the house were a bit strained to say the least. However, after hours of cleaning chicken shit off everything in the attic, we got our chance to "laugh under our breaths" and eventually become fellow brothers in the greatest house on Clarkson's campus in 1961.
Dave Richardson ’63
