2015 Alumni Winners

Barbara Johnson (Barb)

Barbara JohnsonBarbara Johnson (Barb) is well-known in the community and epitomizes the concept of servant leader. Barb is a tireless advocate for the preservation of history in Hope, in Bartholomew County, and the state of Indiana. She received the Sagamore of the Wabash award from the Governor's Office for her unstoppable efforts to preserve, restore, and utilize the Simmons Schoolhouse. She was nominated for Teacher of the Year when she was an elementary teacher, received the Edna V. Folger Outstanding Teaching Award, a member of the Christmas of Yesteryear Board, a member of the Old Fashioned Independence Day Celebration committee, and was the Hope Heritage Days Grand Marshal. Her volunteer efforts include being a Simmons School Marm, the Coordiation of Simmons School 25 year celebration at which Glenda Ritz, State Superintendent of Public Instruction attended, Director of Yellow Trail Museum, developing the Hope walk, and organizing the Civil War Days. If there is a fund raiser for a worthy cause, Barb is likely to be involved.
Barb is married to Ed Johnson, Hartsville Fire Chief. She has two daughters, Amy and Allison and two sons, Gary and Bill. Best of all, she has five grandchildren, Sam. Ben, Clay, Gram and Hanna.

Roger Johnson

Roger JohnsonRoger Johnson is a former State Fire Marshal and a 1963 graduate of Hauser High School. He began his fire service career in 1963 as a wildland firefighter for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. He is a state-certified firefighting tactics instructor, inspector, and prevention specialist.
He served as a firefighter and instructor before being named Chief of the East Columbus Fire Department in 1974. He spent 18 years as a firefighter at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Indianapolis 500.
In February 2005 he was appointed by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels as Indiana's State Fire Marshal, heading the Division of Fire and Building Safety. Interestingly, Johnson told his fellow classmates in 1963 that he would one day receive this appointment. Johnson served as State Fire Marshal from 2005 to 2008 during Mitch Daniel's term as governor. The State Fire Marshal's office investigates suspicious fires, promotes fire prevention education among children, enforces fire codes and provides support for local departments during fires and hazardous material situations. Johnson's first priority as marshal was to promote increased training and safety among Indiana's 27,000 volunteer and career firefighters, including the creation of the Indiana Fire Academy.
During his career, he became a photographer taking photos of fire and police scenes. One of his photos of a burning house in Columbus was printed in the Indianapolis Star. He also taught flammable liquid firefighting at University of Kentucky, Ohio State University, Indiana Fire School, and Notre Dame Fire School. Mr. Johnson remembers his most interesting educational experience as teaching flammable liquid firefighting at the Pacific Rim Fire Academy, Keni Alaska. From 2006-2013 Johnson served as President of the Indiana Firefighters Association, a 3,500 member organization and in 2012 was appointed as emergency management consultant to the Columbus Fire Chief. He is now retired.