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

ROCK HILL, 5. c., Dec. 26.-CP1-
DR.. ID. b. Johnson, ~, southern
educator and president Of Winthrop
college for women here. died early
today after a lengthy illness.
In devoting his life 10 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
CTenn.) Female college. The son
eentered his educational activities in
South Carolina, where difficulty
# obtaining competent teachers i'm
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
.he time az the Civil war. 20 board
an army train. The conpGncti0n %
re.urn to his class growing ms 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,
nc took n renewed interest IN his
studies. He was graduated from the
University If Tennessee in 1877 as
valedictorian or 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 as tutor IN
Tennessee schools and was for two
years an assistant professor at the
University 81 Tennessee. lie vent 70
Abbeville. S. c., as principal Of grade
school and after two years was ask
cd 70 organize the school system Of
Columbia, :. G. lie remained as
superintendent for three years, dur
ing which he cor ceived the idea Of
founding a college TO train teachers,
having encountered difficulty in OBJ
tanning competent instructors for the
schools.
He interested Robert N. Winthrop.
then chairman Of the George Pea
body Board. and obtained an arpro-
priation Of $500 with which to g.
tablish the college. in 1895 the in
stitution was removed to Rock Hill.
s. G., and eventually was accepted
as a state institute u. The state since
has made large appropriations TO
meet the expanding needs Of the col
lege.
IT vas Or. Johnson's proud boast
that "the sun never sets or Win
throp daughters" q reference 70
more than 10000 graduates Of the
institution scattered over the earth.
DR.. johnson was born in one OF
the dormitories Of LAGRANGE Female
college January 10. 1856. a year lat
er his father died ard the familr re-
moved 70 Memphis. After entering
Jpn educational work his interest in
that field extended over the entire
South and to the National Education
association. in which he had bee
active since 1906.
He was elected president Of the
ANaAAbAaA ~AAAANtNM III ASAD anu ANf
ten years previous to that time had
served as president OF 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 ~elector of the Hall of Fame. He
ORGANIZED the state association of
school superintendent and the rural
school improvement association in
South Carolina.
In addition to his educational work
he was actively interested in tho
Young Mems Christian Association.
He organized the Columbia branch
and Or ten years was its president.
He also served as oh; irman cf the
state executive committee from 1886
~ 1895 ard was a member or the In
ternational Y. VI. G. A. committee.
On August 6. 1902. DR.. Johnson
married Miss Main r. Smith Of
Charleston, s. q.