Jim Johnson

Jim Johnson was born in Gleason, Tennessee, the son of the late J.B. and Sally Johnson.  Jim's father was a Veteran of  WW II, an employee of  the Bank of Gleason, a member of the Gleason Masonic Lodge and Commander of Gleason American Legion post #166. Both parents were members of the First Baptist Church , where Sally regularly taught Sunday School.  Jim has two brothers Gary Johnson (Richmond VA) and David Johnson (deceased).  

Jim completed the first grade at Tumbling Creek School, second through fourth grade at Shady Grove School and fifth through ninth grade at Gleason School. After the death of his father in 1957, Jim and his  family moved to Michigan, where his mother's family resided.  After completing high school Jim attended  Murray State University, which was close enough to Gleason for him to get back to visit old friends and relatives. After graduating from Murray, Jim subsequently earned a PhD  in Clinical Psychology from Northern Illinois University. For more than 30 years, Jim was on the faculty of the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Florida, where he taught and served as Director of the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology and Associate Chair for Academic Affairs. 

Jim has two grown children, a daughter Jamie and a son Trey, who have provided him with three wonderful grandchildren and another one on the way. 

Some thirteen years ago, finding that there was no Gleason, Tennessee website to provide  community related information for residents and others, who may have grown up in Gleason and wished to keep in touch with their old hometown, Jim sought to remedy the situation. After consulting with, and being encouraged by, Jack Dunning, the former Mayor of Gleason, Jim launched the current Gleason website at www.GleasonOnline.com in late 2002. This site provided specific web pages devoted to Gleason News/Community Activities, Local Businesses, Churches, Obituaries, Gleason School and Sports, as well as other types of information. Since its early beginnings, Jim has continued to develop, maintain and expand  the website, with a focus on the distinctly positive attributes of the Gleason community.   

Having fond memories of his early years growing up in Gleason and wishing to contribute to the Gleason community in some way following his retirement, Jim chose to move back to West Tennessee in 2011. Since relocating, Jim has become actively involved in the Gleason Downtown Revitalization Program, headed up by Charles Anderson. He has been involved in  assisting in the planning and implementation of various revitalization projects and helping develop community awareness of the Revitalization Program's activities. He has been actively involved in the "Gleason Business of the Month" project, promoted by Charles Anderson, by providing photos highlighting each business, and publishing the articles related to each of these businesses on the website. Jim also serves as both photographer and reporter, often writing stories and providing pictures highlighting special Gleason-related events for the website. 

While, Jim currently lives in Huntingdon with his wife Sandra, he doesn't seem to mind the 25 minute drive to Gleason for regular Revitalization Committee meetings and participating in all of the other activities of this committee. That he also doesn't mind getting his hands dirty is attested to by his active participation in recent work projects designed to enhance Huggins Park and other downtown beautification efforts. Indeed, Jim is committed to helping do whatever is needed to support his old hometown and the people who live here.

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