Funeral services celebrating the life of Arthur M. Johnson, age 84 of Carthage, Texas, will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, September 10, 2007 at First United Methodist Church in Carthage with Reverend Earl Cantrell and Reverend Paul Thomasson officiating under the direction of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 4-6 p.m. on Monday before the service at the church. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 at Redwater Cemetery in Redwater, Texas near Texarkana. Mr. Johnson passed away on Thursday, September 6, 2007 in Knoxville, Tennessee after a brief illness.

Born February 22, 1923, in Redwater, Texas, he was the son of Walter M. and Nadine Spencer Johnson. He had lived in Carthage since 1950, moving from Texarkana. After one year at Texarkana College, and working a multitude of jobs including carpentry with his father, and owning a Mobil Service Station; in 1942, he helped build the Lone Star Ordinance Plant--then became an inspector over the building of 95mm Howitzer shells. On January 6, 1943, he entered the Army Air Force, and went to Atlantic City for basic training before Radio School in Valparaiso, IN. A year later he was sent for ASTP specialized training for engineers at the Univ. of AL and Pasadena City College, CA. From camps in MS, TX, NJ, and NY, he shipped out to become part of the 9th Army: first landing at LaHarve, France. Most of his time overseas was spent as part of the 13th Armored "Black Cat" Division, Co.B, 124th Armored Engineers, as he crossed the Rhine under General Patton. He was then attached to part of Bradley's 2nd armored Division, before returning to the states in July, 1945.

He had married his childhood sweetheart, Nell McClurg Johnson on Nov. 14,1944, and eventually went back to school: first in Texarkana, and then to East TX State Teachers College, Commerce, where he received his BS and MS degrees in 1948 and 1949. After a year and a half as a teacher at Talco H.S., he moved his wife and new baby to Carthage in 1950, in order to teach all math courses at the 2-year old Panola Junior College,In 1951, he was asked to live in the college athletic dorm at the time the football program was ending, and also to coach a basketball team to keep an athletic program at the college. After 3 years of working at this, he was asked to add a track team beginning 1954. Some of those athletes went all the way to compete in Kansas! By the fall of 1957 he again took over the basketball program--coaching until 1964, and serving as Athletic Director, as well. Under his tenure, not only did the teams at Panola keep a proud winning record, but he was also so very proud of his Fillies women's basketball program that he initiated. He was the number 1 fan for both of the NJCAA National Championship teams!! In addition to obvious duties at the college, he also drew the architectural plans for the original athletic dorm. In the fall of 1964, he entered PJC's administration as Registrar, and became Academic Dean in 1966. His 32-year tenure at Panola ended in February, 1982, when he retired after serving as President of the college from 1974-1982. The College Board voted to name the new gym that was dedicated that year in his honor. The Arthur M. Johnson Gymnasium is a lasting tribute to his years there.

One of his proudest moments in his adopted home was receiving the Panola County Citizen of the Year award. He was also very proud to have established the Ambassadors with their distinctive blazers as part of his tenure with the Chamber of Commerce. As a long-time member of the Carthage Noon Lions Club, he served in many local as well as district offices; enjoying performing and later, providing lighting for the many annual Lions Shows. He was an active, dedicated member of First UMC for many years.

His parents, his wife of 59 years-10 months, his three sisters, Lola Johnson, Marie McGee, and Mrs. Eula Johnson, and two brothers, Weldon Johnson and Bonny Johnson, preceded Mr. Johnson in death.

Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Nedra Johnson and Chris Cook, of Knoxville, TN; brother Spencer Johnson of San Antonio, TX; and grandchildren, Jamey Cook of Chapel Hill, NC, and Steven Cook of Knoxville, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. His good humor and easy smile will be missed by all who knew him.

Pallbearers will be his nephews along with Marion Neill and Howard Rhiddlehoover. Honorary pallbearers will be Tracy Parker, Charles Matthews, John Goolsby, Rapheal Crawford, Jr., along with the Panola Junior College faculty and staff from 1950 to 1982.

The family suggests memorials be made to a charity of donor's choice.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.