By Sana Cole
The Scene staff
Former Forest Park President Morris F. Johnson III died last month after suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was 64.
Morris served as president from 2005 to 2009.
“He was a very student-centered president,” said Claudia Perry, St. Louis Community College district coordinator for communications. “He loved nothing better than being out in the halls talking to students.”
Perry was manager of community relations at Forest Park during Johnson’s presidency.
“He was a very fun-loving person who loved to play practical jokes,” she said. “He was a pleasure to work for.”
Donna Harmon, who served as Johnson’s executive assistant, also remembers his humor.
“Anyone who knew him knew that whenever we’d eat at any engagement, and he was asked what he wanted to drink, he’d always respond, ‘Do you have any red Kool-Aid?’” Harmon said. “That was his way of breaking the ice.”
Johnson came to Forest Park about a year after the death of its sixth president, Patricia Nichols. He had worked 12 years at DeMoines Area Community College and 19 years at Phoenix College in Arizona.
At Forest Park, Johnson strengthened its Global Education Initiative, conducted faculty and staff exchanges with two colleges in China, oversaw plans for the new William J. Harrison Education Center in North St. Louis and won the 2008 Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education for “internationalizing” campus.
Johnson also was instrumental in getting the giant letters put on the outside of towers to help students figure out where they were going and where they needed to park.
“You would always see him engaging with students,” Harmon said. “His passion was to see students excel and see them happy.”
Johnson was diagnosed with ALS about a year after leaving Forest Park. He moved to San Antonio, Texas, to be closer to his sister, Karen Johnson, and lived in an assisted-living facility.
Friends and family held a memorial service for Johnson last week in Phoenix. Two more services are planned, one in his home state of New Jersey and one in DeMoines.
Ed Bailey, former dean of student support services on the Meramec campus, was a close friend and fraternity brother to Johnson. He spoke of his laughter and kindness.
“He was, in my opinion, a very kind and thoughtful person,” Bailey said. “He was always wanting to uplift the spirit of others, and he would always extend a helping hand to students. He was particularly concerned about student success.
“I will miss him. Of course, he will be greatly missed by (many people). He was a very special and unique individual.”