Al Johnson Memorial Service
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Shove Chapel
Colorado College
“He always gave more than he took”
Colorado College says goodbye to Al Johnson
On Saturday, April 6, the green grass in Armstrong Quad at Colorado College was swarming with soccer players. The players were running, shouting and smiling as they prepared to play in the Quony Cup, a benefit in honor of two fellow students - Chris Quon and Evan Spirito - who lost their lives to a heart condition and to cancer, respectively.
At the edge of the fields, people dressed more formally – many in dresses, suits and ties - were walking towards Shove Chapel for a commemorative service in honor of James “Al” Johnson.
Mike Edmonds, dean of students at the college, was greeting guests. One of them asked Mike if he thought all the noise of the soccer games would disrupt the service.
“Not at all. Al would have loved this,” said Edmonds, who helped organize the service. “He’d be so happy to see all the students out having a good time. This is just perfect.”
More than 200 friends, relatives and former students honored James “Al” Johnson (1930-2012) at the 10:30 a.m. memorial service. Current students served as ushers, greeting the many guests.
“We respect your journey and we trust you travel safely in your next journey,” said Rev. Kate Holbrook, chaplain of The Colorado College, who presided over the service.
Al served The Colorado College for nearly half a century - as registrar, as a professor of economics and as the debate coach. Al passed away at age 82 on Dec. 28 in Colorado Springs.
The service began with rousing gospel music from The Rev. Dennis Mose & Friends, a local gospel choir.
Numerous speakers paid tribute to Al.
“The American Forensics Association sponsors five debate organizations and Al helped found three of them,” said Mike Janas, president elect of the AFA.
Al was described as possessing “a rare grace, a person who served without expectations” and “a good friend.”
“He always gave more than he took,” said Larry Stimpert, a Colorado College economics professor, sharing words and reflections from Al’s former students.
Ann Burnett was a former economics student of Al’s who also debated for Al. Ann, a professor of Communication at North Dakota State, spoke of sensing something was now missing in her life.
“In the past few months, as I tell people that I am going back to Colorado Springs to honor Al Johnson,” said Burnett, “I keep coming back to the same fact: I don’t have my mentor anymore. What am I going to? Al is irreplaceable. Then as the days have gone by, I’ve come to realize that maybe I am now the mentor – it’s now my turn.”
A eulogy was offered by the Honorable Diana DeGette, U.S. Representative for Colorado’s 1st congressional district. DeGette read a tribute she had entered into the congressional record.
“He trained us to be scholar debaters who repeat our points three times,” said DeGette. “He was a teacher, scholar, mentor, friend.
“Every single debate trip seemed to be in Kansas, and they all seemed to take 10 hours to get there. Whoever was shotgun had to find ‘Stairway to Heaven’ on the radio and talk to Al to keep him awake.
“He encouraged us to live lives of integrity and to strive for uncompromising excellence.”
DeGette recalled how Al would react when his teams came to him complaining of an “undeserved” loss. Al was sometimes less than sympathetic as he reminded them that if they had won a few more ballots, losing one wouldn’t have mattered.
DeGette said Al advised students to apply those lessons to life. He believed that by striving for excellence, we can always tolerate an occasional setback without derailing our dreams.
Burnett also recalled Al giving advice before a round.
“Al’s best advice to Regina Walter and I going into rounds was ‘don’t screw up,’ ” said Burnett, “and that phrase is edited slightly because we’re in church.”
The service included hymns sung with fervor by Susan Rissman and the gospel choir, including “Take My Hand Precious Lord,” “I Come to the Garden,” and “How Great Thou Art.” The organ postlude was, appropriately, “Swing Low Sweet Chariot,” coming for to carry Al home.
There were light moments as well. Burnett talked of Al’s insistence that people must “have fun” in life.
“Al really enjoyed going to the Strater Hotel in Durango, eating at the Ore House, requesting the piano player play ‘Maple Leaf Rag’ for the 4th or 5th time,” said Burnett. “Lesson learned: a mentor is personable and funny.”
One speaker made mention of Al’s son Dana Johnson who passed away on March 28.
The spirit of the gathering was sad, of course, because friends missed not having Al around. But the gathering was also a joyous celebration of a good life, well lived.
Ann Burnett spoke for us all in her remarks about “Uncle Al.”
“Al, I learned so much from you,” she said. “I hope, and so do others here, that we can be half the person you were…”
Burnett recalled how Al encouraged students to “be there” for friends: “Never be afraid to ask how someone is doing. Provide all the support you can.”
The service was followed by a reception in Al’s honor.
Joe Gantt, president of the National Parliamentary Debate Association and debate coach at Lewis & Clark, drove the six hours from NIET in Hutchinson, Kansas, to represent NPDA at the service.
Brent Northup, NPDA treasurer, rode shotgun on the trip, keeping Joe awake much as Al’s own students did while traveling across the endless flatlands of Kansas towards the next debate tournament.
NIET honored Al at its opening assembly in Hutchinson, Kansas. NPDA honored Al at its closing awards assembly in Stockton, Calif.
Al would have loved the service at Colorado College surrounded by all the bustling and laughing on campus. Al laughed easily, and had a contagious sense of humor.
Chances are he paused while climbing his own stairway to heaven to take a drag on his cigarette and smile down upon the college he loved so much.
END
Brent Northup
bnorthup@carroll.edu
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