Lt. Col. Carl Edward Johnson, Jr. (RET)

Lt Col Carl Edward Johnson Jr (Ret) was born in 1935 in Lockport, IL. Carl was the oldest of 6 children to Carl Edward Johnson Sr. and Marcelle Mae Underwood. He had five sisters and a brother. Carl attended the University of IL in Champaign, IL on a football scholarship. He was also in ROTC and a member of Theta Chi.
While playing football the “Fighting Illini” in the late 50’s, Carl played with great names of American football. Drafted while a junior by the Green Bay Packers with late, great linebacker Ray Nietzsche, he elected to complete his college education. Upon graduation, he continued to play football for the Bowling AFB team in Washington DC while also working as an auditor for the Air Force on the base. He received three (3) additional draft offers to play professional football with the San Francisco 49’s, NY Giants, and Baltimore Colts. Instead, he accepted an active duty commission with Air Force which started his 20 year career. Carl’s love for football and the opportunity to mentor young players continued while he was stationed at Robins AFB in Georgia where he coached recreational football in Warner Robins.
After retiring from the Air Force, Carl worked at the Georgia Institute of Technology as the Manager of the Internal Auditing Department until his retirement in 2004.
In 1961, Carl married the late Shirley Dolores Sowder of Roanoke, VA. They were married 54 years. They have 3 children, Carl David Johnson, James Matthew Johnson, and Mary Margaret Johnson. Carl and Dodie have 7 grandchildren, and 5 step grandchildren. He also left three (3) beloved German Shepherds.
Carl’s 20 year career in the Air Force took them many places with the most exciting being Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico. They moved to Douglasville, GA in 1979 upon his retirement from the Air Force. They were members of First Baptist Church of Douglasville. In 2010 they moved to the Powder Springs area to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Carl is survived by Ronnie Johnson, Norma Catlin, and Sandra Hoskins. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Southeastern Guide Dogs ( www.guidedogs.org ).