Dcath Strikes Triple Blow to Executive Ranks of C. D. Johnson Lumber Corporation

Sudden and violent death struck twice and a few days later struck again against the executive heads of the C. D. Johnson tumber Corporation, of Portland, Oregon, on August 24, 1951.

The lumber industry of the entire nation was shocked when. the news broke on that fatal morning that Dean Johnson and his brother Ernest were among the 50 people who met death on a hillside near Oakland, California, in the crash of a DC 6-8 giant airliner. The plane was flying non-stop from Chicago to Oakland, and was but five minutes from the Oakland landing field when it struck and exploded.

The Johnson brothers had been on a business mission to Chicago. They rrrere accompanied on the trip by a business associate, Eric P. Van, also of Portland, a partner in the famous accountir-rg firm of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Company, and CPA for the C. D. Johnson Lumber Corporation, who died with them in the plane crash. Death for all who rode the doomed plane 'ivas instantaneous.

That was Friday morning, August 24. On the follo'rving Tuesday the funerals of Dean and Ernest Johnson were held in Portland in the presence of a great gathering of rnourning friends. One of the pallbearers for the Dear, johnson part of the service was R. P. "Bob" Richardson, resident manager for the C. D. Johnson Lumber Corporation at their big mill at Toledo, Oregon. Mr. Richardson collapsed from a heart attack as the funeral cortege moved out of Trinity Episcopal Church, was rushed to a hospital, and there pronounced dead.

Dean and Ernest Johnson were sons of the late C. D. Johnson, and of Mrs. Johnson, who survives them. Dean was president and Ernest vice president and sales manager for the corporation.

Dean Johnson, the elder brother lvas one of the top ranking personalities in the lumber industry of the Pacific

Northwest, a leader of splendid ability, an outstanding thinker and speaker in the councils of the West Coast Lumbermen's Association, and also in the national affairs of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association. He was a fii;rn of force and of great promise, and his death opens a sad void in the ranks of Western lumber. He had been honored with the presidency of the West Coast Lumlrermen's Association in 1945, and served with distinction.

Dean Jchnson was born in Louisville, Arkansas, January 2, 1894, gr:aduated from Cornell University with an engineering degree, spent several of his early years in engineering rvork. and then moved to Portland in 1922, to become associated with his father in the lumber manufacturing business. In I9l9 he married Ruth R. Robertson, who survives him, and they have two sons, Clarence Dean and Robertson Lee. He served overseas in World 'War One, and 'vrras decorated rvith the Distinguished Service Medal.

He was a member of many civic and social organizations in Portland, including the Arlington Club, IJniversity Club, Waverly Country Club, Racquet Club, American Legion, 4O and 8, Masons, and the Mummy Club. He was a trustee of the Oregon Forest Fire Association.

Ernest Johnson was a quiet, conservative, scholarly man, less givcn to affairs outside their own business than his brother. He established a long time reputation as a lumberman of vision and executiv.e ability, and in close association .,','ith his brother Dean, he contributed his full share in building the great success that has attended their lumber operations both before and since the death of their father. He was born in St. Louis in 1898.

Like his brother he graduated at Cornell, and served overseas through World War One. He married Edith Menefee in Portland in 1929, and is survived by his wife and two daughters, Dorothy F. and Margery. He was

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