Hall of Fame
The Columbus, Georgia native who now resides in Louisville, Kentucky started his athletic career at the University of Louisville. After having a successful college career, Dr. Johnson went on and played professional football with the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Colts winning two Super Bowls one with each team. He has been very important to the development of Benedict College. The former Ford Motor Company employee, is nationally renowned entrepreneur whose firm, Active Transportation has consistently been recognized in the nation's top publications including Forbes, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, Minority Business News USA, Transport Topics and MBE Magazine.
Since 1984, Dr. Johnson has built a quartet of businesses hauling everything from steel and turbines to heavy trucks. In 2000 Active Transportation and revenues in excess of $500 million and Johnson successfully closed on the sale of his holdings. He started C.W. Johnson Xpress in 2002 an constructed the business's new Headquarters in the inner city of Louisville. Dr. Johnson's commitment extends beyond building CW Johnson Xpress business to developing ,other minority suppliers.
The company spent over $25 million with minority owned firms nationwide. In 1995, he formed a task forced with other businesses, raising $8 million. He has chaired major fundraising events for Black Achievers, The College fund/UNCF, and the national Center for Family Literacy.
Throughout his career, Dr. Johnson has made several contributions back to his community but the most noted act of philanthropy surfaced as he founded and funded $300,000 of a $500,000 endowed scholarship for Louisville youth to attend Benedict College; he also purchased two 53 passenger buses for the Benedict College Athletic Department.,
In 2002, Dr. Johnson committed to a major gift of one million dollars to the building of the Leroy T. Walker Health and Wellness Complex. This marked the largest gift to the college has received. During this process Benedict College has built one of the best football facilities in Southeast. In 2006, the stadium was named after Dr. Johnson prior to its opening in September. Since February of 1997 Dr. Johnson has contributed a total of $1,380,256.00.
Dr. Johnson holds a Doctorate of Law from Benedict College and a Doctorate of Humane Letter from Wilberforce University. Dr. Johnson and his wife Betty have received numerous awards for their Philanthropy. Dr. Johnson and his wife love their church Quinn Chapel A.M.E and they gave 1.3 million to build it new facility in the inner city of Louisville. The United Negro College Fund recently honored them for their exceptional contribution to education excellence, and presented them them the President's award in New York City in March of 2003. Dr. Johnson's motto over the years is he loves to excel in business world, but to be able to go back and help someone else, that's what it's all about. He also stated" My whole career really has been to try and help get kids educated and rise above poverty.",,
