Russell Dixon Johnson

My uncle Dick's nickname derived from his middle name, Dixon, which was the maiden name of the first Johnson woman in this country, Margaret Dixon Johnson. Uncle Dick left Oklahoma as a young adult, as did his brothers Cliff, Bill, Don and sister Margaret, married, in military service or professions that were important in wartime, and then the Cold War. They were scattered across the country. Their children (my cousins) knew each other through rare meetings, or never met at all.

Uncle Dick was an athlete at Shawnee High School. After graduation, he attended Oklahoma Baptist University and Oklahoma A&M. He was sports announcer for KGFF, then KTOK in Oklahoma City. He was called to active duty in the Army, serving in the 45th division. Uncle Dick served in the Pacific and European theaters during WWII and in the Korean conflict. He retired in 1960 with rank of Lt. Colonel.

Uncle Dick and Aunt Hazel had two girls, Patsy and Mary Ann, who became my good friends when Uncle Dick was stationed for a time at Ft. McNair in Washington, D.C. Uncle Dick retired to Plattsburgh, NY. He and his family returned to DC so that he could walk me down the aisle on May 30, 1970, as my father, Uncle Dick's brother, had died the year before. Uncle Dick passed away unexpectedly in his sleep two weeks later of a heart attack. He received a military burial at Plattsburgh Barracks Cemetery.