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In Memory: Cecil Gray Johnson, ISyE Professor Emeritus

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Cecil Gray Johnson, ISYE Professor Emeritus, died peacefully on Sunday, October 25, 2009, and was buried with military honors on Friday, October 30, 2009, at Arlington Memorial Park.

Professor Johnson was born in Nanafalia, Alabama, as the youngest of six children. During World War II, he served in the Eighth Air Force. Based in Norwich, England, he completed twenty combat missions and served as a lead B-24 pilot. He received degrees from Georgia Tech in 1948, 1949, and 1957. During his time as a student, Professor Johnson served as editor of the Tech newspaper, the Technique, and was president of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. He joined the faculty at Georgia Tech in 1955 as an instructor and was promoted from associate professor to professor in 1967. He served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Industrial Engineering for ten years, on the Board of Directors of the Institute of Industrial Engineers, and received the IIE Distinguished Service Award. Professor Johnson served on research projects at UCLA, Stanford, University of Georgia, and Georgia Industries for the Blind, as well as Georgia Tech. He was an industrial consultant to many organizations including Delta Air Lines where he served from 1960 to 1995. He has been an active member of Executive Round Table at Georgia Tech from 1957 until recently and served on its board several times. He was a member of the following honor societies: Alpha Pi Mu, Order of Omega, ANAK, and ODK. In 1992 Professor Johnson received the Albert G. Holzman Distinguished Educator Award. A Presidential Scholarship was established in his name at Georgia Tech the same year.

At the time of his official retirement in 1992, Professor Johnson had taught over 10,000 students. After he retired, Professor Johnson continued to research, write, and teach in the role of Professor Emeritus and taught most recently at Worcester College of Oxford University in 2001. Professor Johnson was a rotating Sunday school teacher at the Northside Bible Class at Northside United Methodist Church for over forty years.

Professor Johnson is preceded in death by his loving wife of 49 years, Mary Johnson and son, Mark Johnson. Professor Johnson is survived by his son, Gray Johnson; daughter-in-law, Kim; daughter, Celia; son-in-law, Clyde; and grandchildren Julie, Alan, Brittany, and Mark. Expressions of sympathy can be sent to the family in care of Gray Johnson, 1810 Baldwin Farms Drive, Atlanta, Georgia, 30068.

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  • Workflow Status:Published
  • Created By:Edie Cohen
  • Created:10/28/2009
  • Modified By:Fletcher Moore
  • Modified:10/07/2016