Troy University News

March 15, 2004

Contact:
Tom Davis or Andy Ellis : (334)670-3196; tomdavis@troy.edu

Office of University Relations
253 Adams Administration
Troy, AL 36082
(334) 670-3196
(334) 670-3274 (fax)

Johnson accepts Distinguished Leadership Award at TSU

   Troy State University presented its fifth Distinguished Leadership Award to Earl Johnson of Andalusia Saturday night for his role in the revitalization of the Bibb Graves Quadrangle.
    Johnson, a member of the TSU class of 1970, not only had the idea to convert the quadrangle into a pedestrian mall with a Trojan warrior statue as the centerpiece, he also made the first donation toward the project. Dr. Jack Hawkins , Jr., Chancellor, presented Johnson with the award at the annual Alumni, Family and Friends Banquet held at the Trojan Center Ballroom.
    “We are honoring Earl Johnson tonight for having a vision and for working to make that vision come true,” Chancellor Hawkins said.
    The Distinguished Leadership Award was created to recognize the achievements of TSU alumni and friends who have distinguished themselves through exemplary work, philanthropy, leadership and service to their profession, community and alma mater.
    Johnson, a private-practice attorney in Andalusia who also serves a mayor, said he was humbled by being chosen for the award.
    “I owe so much more to Troy State University than Troy State University will ever owe me,” Johnson said. “This university has had a tremendous influence on my life.”
    Johnson reminisced about living in Troy as a boy while his mother completed her studies at Troy State College. He pointed out that the land on which the student center now stands was the site for barracks-style housing for married students with families where the Johnsons lived during the week. He attended two grades at the laboratory school at Kilby Hall, which sat where the administration building now sits.
    Johnson is a past winner of the Distinguished Alumnus Award at TSU, and is a charter member of the Covington County Alumni Chapter, as well as a member of the Troy State University Foundation Board.
    Although the Distinguished Leadership Award is the major presentation of the evening, several other awards were also given by the Office of Alumni Affairs. Dr. Leon Davis, a TSU alumnus who served as basketball coach and athletic director at the University of Montevallo , was presented the “We Are Troy State” Spirit Award. Dr. Davis has served TSU is several ways, Faith Ward, Director of Alumni Affairs, said, most notably by raising funds for Trojan athletics.
    Ward also inducted five alumni in the “Golden Trojan” society, which honors those who graduated from TSU 50 years ago. This year's class consists of Virginia Bush of Troy, Dorothy Cowan of Dunwoody, Ga., Mary Byrd Culpepper of Dothan, John Roland of Dothan and Wayne Saunders of Chipley, Fla.