Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-26
D. B. JOHNSON,
TEACHER, dies
Founder, Presi-
dent of Winthrop
Women's College

ROCK HILL. S. C., Dee. 26.-(P)-
DR.. d. 3. Johnson. ", southern
educator and president Of Winthrop
college for women here, died early
today after a lengthy illness.
In devoting his life to the field OF
education. David Bancroft Johnson
not only followed in the footsteps Of
his father, but duplicated one Of the
l~atter's outstanding achievements
the founding Of a college for women.
The father. whose name the son
bore, established and until his death
was president of the LaGrange
(Tenn.) Female college. The son
conferred his educational activities in
South Carolina, where 4 difficulty
Of obtaining competent teachers inn
PEELED him to found Winthrop col
lege.
An accident in which DR.. Johnson
suffered the loss Of his left arm
when eight years of age, played an
important part in shaping his career.
Playing hockey" from school, he re-
ceived permission from United States
troops. then active near his home at
the time Of the Civil war, to board
an army train. The conjunction to
return to his class growing as he
rode, he attempted to jump from the
train. His arm was so badly crushed
that amputation was necessary.
Realizing that this physical handi-
cap would hamper him in later lie,
he took n renewed interest in his
studies. lie was graduated from the
University 81 Tennessee in 1877 as
valedictorian of his class. winner OF
the gold medal for excellence in stu
dent activities ard senior captain OF
his battalion.
Entering Immediately upon educa-
tional work. he served rs tutor IN
Tennessee schools and was for two
years an assistant professor at the
University II Tennessee. lie went 10
Abbeville, s. O., as principal Of grade
school and after two years was ask
Ell 10 organize the school system Of
Columbia, s. G. lie remained as
superintendent for three years, dur
inF which he cor ceived the idea %
founding a college to train teachers,
having encountered difficulty in OBJ
tanning competent instructors for the
schools.
He interested Robert G. winthrop.
then chairman of the George Pea
body Board. and obtained an nppro-
priation Of $500 with which to a.
tshlish the college. IN 1895 the in
stitution was removed to Rock Hill.
s. G., and eventually was accepted
as q state institute z. The state since
has made large appropriations to
meet the expanding needs of the col
lege.
1t was DR.. Johnson's proud boast
that "the sun never sets on Win
throp daughters" n reference TO
more than 10000 graduates OF the
institution scattered over the earth.
Or. JohnAJn was born in r OF
the dormitories Of LaGrange Female
college January 10. 1856. A year lat
er his father died ard the family re-
moved TO Memphis. After entering
upn educational work his interest in
that field extended over the entire
South and 20 the National Education
association. in which he had bee"
active since 1905.
He was elected president Of the
National association in 1915 and for
ten years previous to that time had
served as president az various de-
partments Of the association. He
also was president Of the Southern
Education association, having been
elected in 1910. and since 1919 was
an e~lector If the Hall Of Fame. He
organized the state association Of
school superintendent and the rural
school improvement association in
South Carolina.
In addition 10 his educational work
he was actively interested in the
Young Mems Christian Association.
He organized the Columbia branch
and ar ten years was it's president.
lie also served rs chairman Il the
state executive committee from 1886
70 1895 ard was a member Of the In
ternational Y. n. G. A. committee.
on August g. 1909, DR.. Johnson
married Miss Main r. Smith of
Charleston, s. c.