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Community Partners |
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| George F. Johnson Society |
The
George F. Johnson Society is named for the man many say has had the greatest
impact on Broome County. Born in Milford, Mass., in 1857, his first local job was in 1881 in a section of a
Binghamton shoe factory as the supervisor of a work crew. Nine years later he
became superintendent of that company’s new plant, which was located in the
community of Lestershire and has been described as the largest factory of its kind in the
entire world. In 1899, Johnson became co-owner of the business, which was
renamed the Endicott-Johnson Co. Under his presidency, the company grew to eight
factories in Broome County, employing about 10,000.
Until he died in 1948, Johnson saw to it that Endicott-Johnson employees were treated better than most other workers of that era. He valued his employees and had the company build high quality homes for them (which the employees could buy for rates as low as $7 per week, with an interest rate of only 1 percent). The company also created parks (containing swimming pools and carousels that anyone could ride for free), medical facilities, restaurants, libraries, and recreational facilities—all designed to provide high quality goods and services to the employees for free or at a low cost.
In grateful appreciation, the residents of Lestershire renamed their community Johnson City in 1916, and the employees of Endicott-Johnson built two arches over the area’s main road in the early ’20s, one at the entrance to Johnson City and the other in Endicott, stating that they were the gateways to the "Square Deal Towns."
The George F. Johnson Society recognizes the support of community leaders for health and human services funded by United Way of Broome County. All individuals contributing $1,000 or more in a single year to United Way’s annual campaign are eligible for membership. Gifts to the George F. Johnson Society are credited to the appropriate employee group campaign and/or division. Gifts of $10,000 and above now qualify the donor for membership in the Alexis de Tocqueville Society.
Since its inception in 1987, the George F. Johnson Society has grown from the 53 members it had in its first year.
George F. Johnson Society Members for 2007
Campaign
Gold ($5,000 to $9,999):
Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Gault
Shirley W. Keller
David J. Maines
William R. Maines
Edward Rompala
Silver ($2,500 to $4,999):
Anonymous (2)
Dick & Betsy Aswad
David & Kim Ayers ^
Frank E. Berrish
Bruce & Cheryl Boyea ^
Loretta & Jim Carrigg
Mr. & Mrs. C. A. Cleveland Jr.
Jeff & Sandi Coghlan
Kenneth L. & Beth A. Coleman
Honorable Mary Rita Connerton
Ann & Bill Davies
Thomas & Patricia Davis
Larry & Gina Denniston
Patricia A. Ewing
Robert & Marie Gomulka ^
Jim & Jean Gow ^
Norman T. Herbert
Nancy & Rich Hopf +
Charles & Patricia Ingraham
C. Addison & Nancy B. Keeler
Robert L. McDevitt, K.S.G., K.C.H.S., & Mrs. Catherine H. McDevitt, L.C.H.S.
Dale & Hank McGlynn
Eugene E. and Judith C. Peckham
Thomas E. Rattmann
Mr. & Mrs. John F. Russell
Lennart A. Saaf
Ken & Sue Spink
Fred W. Stein
Steve & Laura Trichka ^
Jim & Joan Walsh +
Bronze ($1,000 to $2,499):
Anonymous (44)
Glenn Ackerman
Ferris & Louise Akel
George & Sally Akel
Ronald & Beth Akel
Richard & Kathleen Allman +
Peter & Catherine Altmann +
Thomas W. Bartenstein
Gary Beagell +
Diana Bean
Bruce & Harriet Becker
Carol Belva
Jane & Bill Berical
Susan L. & Oliver N. Blaise Jr.
Oliver N. Blaise III & Dalya Y. Alkass-Blaise
Barbara C. Blossom
Marilyn & Allan Bombard
Sean M. Bond
Christina Boyd
Jack & Pamela Brayton +
Nancy & Charles Brink *
Roy & Melissa Brock
Marc A. Burford
Joe & Diane Busch +
Jody & Al Buyck +
David J. & Mary Beth Cahill
Mark & Patricia Capobianco
Bob & Agnes Carey
Joan & Don Carlin
John & JoAnn Carrigg
Kathy & Ron Charsky
J. Roger Chatterton
Gary & Jana Chavoustie +
Pamela L. Christina
John A. Clark
Judith E. Clark
Michael Cohen & Judy West
Donald Conklin
Thomas &
Cheryl Coughlin
Mrs. Richard W. Couper
Dr. & Mrs. Edward M. Cox Sr. +
Dave Culbertson +
Jyoti & Dr. Rajesh Dave'
Lois DeFleur
Dr. & Mrs. Christopher Demtrak
Dr. & Mrs. Bruce Denham
Marjorie & Kamlesh Desai
John & Eve DiMenna
Mr. & Mrs. Dean DiTommaso +
Rev. & Mrs. H. Arthur Doersam +
Millicent Drew +
Kristi Empett +
Sandy Englehart
Richard Erikson +
James Felmet
John & Colleen Fitzsimmons
Don & Carolyn Flanagan
Frank & Colette Floyd
Helene J. Freed
Stephen & Linda Gardner
Richard & Kathleen Gilbert
Dr. Francis & Joyce Gilroy
Karen J. Goodman
Al & Kristi Gorick
Peter & Elaine Gorton
Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Grambling Jr.
Dr. Steven Grossman
Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Gudas
Emmanuel & Melissa Guizano
Bob & Marian Hansen
Dr. Jonathan Harris & Ms. Gloria Block
Bonnie Henderson +
Chris & Wendy Hill
Eric Hills
Michael J. Hills
Steve & Darlene Hissong
Paul R. & Nadine K. Hoffmann
Cornelia & John Hogan
Thomas & Christine Hoke
John Houseknecht +
Jane & Bob Hyland
Michelle M. Jeavons
Dale & Maryann Johnson
Mr. & Mrs. Douglas R. Johnson
Frithiof V. Johnson
Christopher M. Jones
Diane M. Julian
Joseph Kane
John & Marcella Keeler
Dr. Thomas F. & Nancy Kay Kelly
William & Lisa Kelly
Robin Kinslow-Evans & Edward Evans +
Jim Kloman +
William & Beth Knecht +
George R. Knott Jr.
RuthAnne Koffman +
Julianne M. Koromhaz
John S. Kresge
Jeff & Cindy Lake
John Leet +
Ronald W. & Diane M. Lesch
Virginia Lowe
William Lynn
Al & Diana Lyons
Christopher C. Lyons +
Tom & Geri Mac Duffie +
Joyce E. & Francis S. Majewski
Richard Matsushima
MaryAnne & Richard N. Matties
Kevin J. McKeown
Michael McNally
Roger McVannan
James S. Mellema & Christina B. Mellema
Christopher Mellon
Mike & Joyce Mercincavage
Jan & Floyd Metzger
Frank & Carol Meyer
Charles Miller +
Judith & Kenneth Miller
Susan & Steve Miller
Mr. & Mrs. Wendell H. Miller
Bill & Sandy Mitchell
Patrick R. Molina +
Sam & Cheryl Monachino +
Allen Moring +
Patrick Morris +
Maria & Jerry Motsavage
Timothy C. & Kim A. Myers +
Vince & Camille Natale
David & Mary Ellen Niefer
David Niermeyer (Niermeyer Foundation)
Teresa O'Connell +
James and Terry Orband
Howell & Susan Palmer
Jay & Barbara Peak
Elaine Petrik +
Mario Petta
Tam & Diane Pham
Carol L. & Barrie R. Phillips
Sheila & Kevin Pierson
Robert Pipher
Amarjit S. Rai
Mark & Sally Reed
William H. & Audree F. Rincker *
Christopher Ritter & Marilyn Tallerico +
Peter & Susan Ronan
Trudy L. Rose +
Janet Rutkowski & John W. Sharpless
Chris & Rochelle Ryan
Matt & Mary Ellen Salanger +
Noland & Jan Schmidt +
Lola Ford Schumann
James & Gail Scott +
Winslow T. Shearman
Richard & Margaret Sheehan
Everett & Karen Shimp
Helen J. Shulman
Dr. & Mrs. Ehtisham U. Siddiqui
Richard Sileo
Ronald & Sue Simons
Dennis & Julie Slattery +
Joseph Slavik +
John G. & Judith A. Spencer
Dr. Laurence Spraggs
Dr. John F. Spring
Chris Strahm
Dennis & Linda Sweeney
Dr. & Mrs. James Terzian
Jennifer & Douglas Thrall
John & Mary Trumble +
Jim & Terri Turner
Kent & Barbara W. Turner * +
Dr. & Mrs. James Vincens
Terry Walsh
Thomas & Sarah Walsh +
Lynn & Dave Warne
Dr. & Mrs. Michael J. Wasco
Dr. & Mrs. James W. Wasson
John B. & Jacqueline T. Westcott
Mrs. Cynthia H. Wetjen
MaryAnn & Jim Wilcox
* Donated by the Community Foundation for South
Central New York from Named Donor Advisory Fund
+ New this year
^ Moved up to this level this year
Updated: May 21, 2008
