2005 Headlines
In memoriamFarewell to longtime friend and benefactor Samuel Curtis Johnson, CU AB '50 (1928-2004)
Sam had been fighting a long and difficult battle with cancer, the illness that prevented him from attending the Johnson School's 20th anniversary celebration a short time ago. The event commemorated the Johnson family's $20 million gift that transformed the school, as well as Sam's and his family's generous support of the school over the years. Helen Johnson-Leipold CU '78, who attended the anniversary in her father's stead, said, "My father loves this school. He loves this building. He would be here himself this evening, but, as some of you know, he is seriously ill. And every day is getting harder." While the Johnson School is named after Sam's great grandfather and the founder of S.C. Johnson, Sam himself is the epitome of the type of leader the Johnson School aspires to produce. Someone who makes an impact. When Sam Johnson took over the helm of family-owned S.C. Johnson in 1966, the company had annual sales of about $171 million; today, the Johnson Family Enterprises generate annual sales of more than $8 billion. But Sam's accomplishment extends far beyond the financial bottom line. One of the pioneers of sustainable business, he built the Johnson organization - one of the world's most respected companies and a household name for generations - on a philosophy that always put people before profits. As Johnson School Dean Swieringa explained, "In transforming a small family wax company into a major global enterprise, Sam insisted that his family companies not only be great businesses, but "good" businesses, respecting their employees, bettering their communities, and protecting the natural environment." Sam was a founding member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and was appointed by President Clinton to the U.S. President's Council on Sustainable Development in 1993. He received a Lifetime Environmental Award from the United Nations Environmental Programme and was inducted into the U.S. National Business Hall of Fame. There is no doubt that Sam Johnson, a legendary leader, contributed to making the business world a better place. At the Johnson School, his legacy lives on. Sam and the Johnson family are an integral part of our identity; their values and ideas have shaped many of the programs and initiatives that helped transform the school - from three endowed professorships, to the recent $5 million to support the Johnson School's program in sustainable business. Sam's spirit lives on in Sage Hall, the beautiful building that he helped transform as the new home for the Johnson School, and we remember Sam's generosity not only in terms of financial support, but also his many visits, thoughtful guidance, and deep and abiding friendship. As the Dean put it, "As the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, we are linked with Sam not only by his name, but also by his aspirations. We carry his legacy with pride." Sam Johnson obituary by Cornell News Service See 20th Anniversary Celebration and Managing the Future videos For More Information |
It is with deep sadness that we learned that Samuel Johnson, a great friend and patron of the Johnson School and Cornell University, passed away at his home in Racine, Wisconsin, on Saturday, May 22, 2004. 