Many of Chicago’s Black-owned businesses may not be open today if not for George E. Johnson Sr.
That was the message echoed Thursday by friends, colleagues and admirers who gathered at Leak and Sons Funeral Home in Greater Grand Crossing to pay respect to the Johnson Products Company founder, who died July 6 at age 99.
“Many of the Black businesses didn’t know about LLCs, they didn’t know about corporation, they didn’t know about the back end of the business. And he took many of them under his wing and taught them,” said Charles Reynolds, 64, Johnson’s personal driver for several decades.
After launching the hair care product company in 1954, tailored to Black consumers, Johnson built it into a multimillion-dollar enterprise that became a symbol of Black business success.
In 1971, the pioneering company became the first Black-owned business on the American Stock Exchange. Johnson Products also had a sponsorship with the weekly music and dance show “Soul Train,” one of the most influential Black television programs.
“His impact in business created a demand for the city and the country to recognize that Black people are consumers and Black people are part of the community,” said Lyle Logan, 66, a longtime family friend and business associate who spent 45 years in banking. “His presence in the business community made the banks realize you need diversity in the banking business.”
Johnson’s business banked with many of the institutions that Logan worked for over the years, even a year and a half ago when Logan and Northern Trust helped launch Johnson’s memoir “Afro Sheen: How I Revolutionized an Industry with the Golden Rule, from ‘Soul Train’ to Wall Street.”
“I don’t know when I didn’t know him. His presence has always been there,” Logan said.
But his influence expanded well beyond the beauty industry and the business world.
Reynolds said he met Johnson in the 1990s while volunteering to give senior citizens rides to medical appointments. Reynolds was at Michael Reese Hospital when Johnson, visiting the Rev. Jesse Jackson to advocate for Black healthcare workers, noticed the work Reynolds was doing.
Johnson got Reynolds’ phone number and began recommending him to friends and business associates.
“He gave me more business in this city than anybody could ever,” Reynolds said. “… I didn’t even know what to charge. And many times, I found out there was no charge because he picked up the tab.”
Johnson helped Reynolds realize that “health is wealth.” He said Johnson’s successes never changed his priorities.
Material things “meant nothing to this gentleman,” Reynolds said.
Isobel Neal, 92, agreed. She met Johnson and his wife, Joan, in the 1950s after moving to Chicago from New York. She lived down the street from them in the Gold Coast for many of those years.
When Neal was raising money for an African art collection for the DuSable Museum, she said Johnson immediately wrote a check. The collection is still displayed at the museum. Johnson had helped Neal raise money for other causes they supported as well, she said, and another time gave her free tickets to a symphony.
“George was a very compassionate man, very generous and had great integrity,” Neal said. “I’m just very happy to have known him because he was a loving person, as well as very smart and an astute businessman.”
Johnson’s funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at Trinity United Church of Christ, 400 W. 95th St.