Edward L. Johnson

Edward L. Johnson

1910-2004

Ed Johnson, the first initiate into Lambda Alpha International joining the organization sometime in early 1931. The society was founded in 1930 by a group of four young men who were students of the eminent Professor Richard T. Ely, regarded as one of the founding fathers of the study of land economics.  The following year they decided to expand their numbers and as Ed liked to say, “they needed a guinea pig on whom they could try out their initiation ritual.” 

After graduation from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ed began work at Bell Federal Savings and Loan Association.  He remained active in Lambda Alpha and served as President from 1943-44.

In 1955, he joined three other former Chicagoans who had moved west and the group started the Los Angeles Chapter of the Society.

In 1989, Lambda Alpha International recognized Edward Johnson with its International Fellow Award.  Ed continued to remain active in Lambda Alpha and in 1999 attended the Board of Governors meeting in Santa Monica.

He passed away December 18, 2004 and his wife Joyce died March 20, 2005.