Longtime Gainesville Sun executive editor 'Ed' Johnson dies at 92

Edward "Ed" L. Johnson, a longtime executive editor of The Gainesville Sun for more than two decades who oversaw the newspaper during its two Pulitzer Prize wins, died April 23 from complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 92.

Johnson took over as executive editor of The Gainesville Sun in 1962 when it was owned by Cowles Communications. He continued in the position after The Sun was sold to The New York Times in 1971, with the added responsibility of coordinating the Times' Regional Newspaper Group, which at the time consisted of 35 daily and weekly newspapers.

He left The Sun in 1984 — his last 18 months also serving as publisher — after being appointed the Times' newspaper group's senior editor and moved to Tallahassee. He retired in 1995.

Among Johnson's award-winning career highlights are The Sun's only two Pulitzer Prizes: publisher John R. Harrison in 1965 for his editorial campaign for better housing codes, and Horance G. Davis Jr. in 1971 for his editorials on peaceful desegregation of public schools.

Ron Cunningham, a former Sun editorial page editor whom Johnson first hired in 1976 as a higher education reporter, called Johnson his mentor.

"He was the most congenial, professional editor I ever worked with," said Cunningham, who worked for The Sun for more than 30 years. "Virtually everything (positive) that happened to me as a journalist at The Gainesville Sun happened to me because of Ed Johnson. He was a wonderful man."

Similar sentiments were posted on Facebook by Skip Perez, who also was hired by Johnson after finishing journalism school.

“He was unwavering in his support for me during trying times both professionally and personally. I owe him so much, and reflecting today I believe he was the second most important man in my life — after by Dad," Perez wrote.

Born Oct. 31, 1931, in Acton, Indiana, Johnson enlisted in the Air Force after high school and served before and during the Korean War. He was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.

Local goverment: UF, City of Gainesville agree to extend current RTS contract for six months

According to Johnson's obituary, he was "assigned to a military unit led by civilian psychologists testing aspiring pilots, tasks that took him to USAF bases throughout the South ..." One of those stops happened to be at Stengel Field, an airstrip near Archer Road in Gainesville where Butler Plaza now stands.

He used his military benefits to attend the University of Florida, where he earned advanced degrees in journalism and communications. According to his obituary, Johnson spent his summers away from college working for the Tampa Tribune. During the school year he would occasionally write for the Gainesville Daily Sun when it was located near the Hippodrome downtown. Johnson's obituary states that the Tribune awarded him a scholarship and then employment upon his graduation in 1957.

While at the Tribune, Johnson met his future wife, Carole, on Indian Rocks Beach. They married on July 29, 1960.

"Ed had a tremendous sense of humor and he was able to have a positive viewpoint on just about everything," Carole Johnson said. "He couldn't have been a better husband. He was loyal and supportive and helpful."

Johnson played a major role in developing a professional relationship with the University of Florida that provided training for editing and reporting students. He did the same at Florida A&M University during his time in Tallahassee. He was honored by UF as an Alumnus of Distinction in 1988.

Johnson was preceded in death by his parents, Florabel and Floyd Johnson, and younger sisters Janice Johnson and Phyllis Nelms.

He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Carole Bauer Johnson, son Casey Johnson, daughter Amanda Southerland, grandson Nathaniel Southerland and sister Beverly Suzanna Tieman.

"As a son, without question he's the best dad you could ever have," Casey said. "He was very good at explaining what was right and what was wrong. It wasn't a lecture as much as it was a lesson. He's truly missed."

No funeral services will be scheduled. Those who wish to honor Johnson can donate to the charity of their choice, or to the Southern Poverty Law Center, whose work Johnson admired.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Longtime Gainesville Sun executive editor 'Ed' Johnson dies at 92