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Johnson was born at home and named '''Oscar Neal Johnson'', one of five children of Olvy Johnson (1903-1975) and the former Elsie Faye Keeling (1906-1976) in Murfreesboro, the seat of Pike County in southwestern Arkansas. Given the nickname "Sox" at Murfreesboro High School, he dropped the "Oscar" and became "Neal Sox Johnson." In 1955, he received a Bachelor of Science Education degree from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, when the institution was known as Henderson State Teachers College. He later undertook graduate studies at the [[University of Arkansas]] at Fayetteville. After college, he worked briefly as a draftsman and estimator for a construction company and for USX (then U.S. Steel) in Gary, [[Indiana]], where his late sister then resided. In 1956, Johnson entered Reserve Officer Training School at Fort Benning, [[Georgia]]. He subsequently settled in Nashville in Howard County in southwestern Arkansas, where he operated a construction company and a building supply business.<ref name=statement>Statement of Neal Sox Johnson, Temple, [[Texas]], April 2011</ref>

Johnson was born at home and named '''Oscar Neal Johnson'', one of five children of Olvy Johnson (1903-1975) and the former Elsie Faye Keeling (1906-1976) in Murfreesboro, the seat of Pike County in southwestern Arkansas. Given the nickname "Sox" at Murfreesboro High School, he dropped the "Oscar" and became "Neal Sox Johnson." In 1955, he received a Bachelor of Science Education degree from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, when the institution was known as Henderson State Teachers College. He later undertook graduate studies at the [[University of Arkansas]] at Fayetteville. After college, he worked briefly as a draftsman and estimator for a construction company and for USX (then U.S. Steel) in Gary, [[Indiana]], where his late sister then resided. In 1956, Johnson entered Reserve Officer Training School at Fort Benning, [[Georgia]]. He subsequently settled in Nashville in Howard County in southwestern Arkansas, where he operated a construction company and a building supply business.<ref name=statement>Statement of Neal Sox Johnson, Temple, [[Texas]], April 2011, based on interview with author Billy Hathorn</ref>

   

   

==Supporting Goldwater and Rockefeller==

==Supporting Goldwater and Rockefeller==

   

   

In 1964, Johnson became involved in the Republican presidential campaign of [[Barry Goldwater]], in opposition to [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], and the state gubernatorial race waged by [[Winthrop Rockefeller]] against [[Orval E. Faubus]]. Johnson served as the  Republican chairman of the Howard County and for Arkansas's 3rd congressional district party organizations. He was also a member of the Arkansas State Republican Exeuctive Committee.  From January 1970 to January 1973, he was the first full-time paid executive director of the state GOP.<ref>''Arkansas Outlook'' (Arkansas Republican Party newsletter), February 1973</ref> During Johnson's tenure with the state party, Rockefeller was handily defeated in a bid for a third term as governor by the [[Democrat]] [[Dale Bumpers]], but two years later [[Richard M. Nixon]] became the first Republican since [[Ulysses S. Grant]] to win the [[electoral vote]]s of Arkansas.<ref>Arkansas Secretary of State, Genereal election returns, November 7, 1972</ref>

In 1964, Johnson became involved in the Republican presidential campaign of [[Barry Goldwater]], in opposition to [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], and the state gubernatorial race waged by [[Winthrop Rockefeller]] against [[Orval E. Faubus]]. Johnson served as the  Republican chairman of the Howard County and for Arkansas's 3rd congressional district party organizations. He was also a member of the Arkansas State Republican Exeuctive Committee.  From January 1970 to January 1973, he was the first full-time paid executive director of the state GOP.<ref>''Arkansas Outlook'' (Arkansas Republican Party newsletter), February 1973</ref> During Johnson's tenure with the state party, Rockefeller was handily defeated in a bid for a third term as governor by the [[Democrat]] [[Dale Bumpers]], but two years later [[Richard M. Nixon]] became the first Republican since [[Ulysses S. Grant]] to win the [[electoral vote]]s of Arkansas.<ref>Arkansas Secretary of State, General election returns, November 7, 1972</ref>

   

   

Johnson subsequently suggested that Rockefeller fared poorly in the race against Bumpers because Rockefeller had appointed many "hard-core Democrats” to state offices, boards, and commissions, rather than Republicans who had expected patronage positions.<ref>Cathy Kunzinger Urwin, ''Agenda for Reform:  Winthrop Rockefeller as Governor of Arkansas, 1967-71 (Fayetteville: Arkansas: [[Univeristy of Arkansas]] Press, 1991), p. 166</ref> In an investigation that he conducted, Johnson found that of the 476 Rockefeller appointees as of May 1970, only 86 had contributed money to the state Republican Party. Johnson’s argument was based on the possibility that more Republican appointees would have inspired the party faithful to a greater degree of campaign effort and confidence.<ref>Urwin, pp. 166-167</ref>Johnson said that he had discouraged Rockefeller from running again and had wanted the party to nominate Lieutenant Governor Maurice L. "Footsie" Britt as its standard-bearer to challenge Bumpers, who emerged as an unexpected Democratic nominee by entering and winning the runoff election against former Governor Orval Faubus.<ref>Urwin, p. 174</ref>

Johnson subsequently suggested that Rockefeller fared poorly in the race against Bumpers because Rockefeller had appointed many "hard-core Democrats” to state offices, boards, and commissions, rather than Republicans who had expected patronage positions.<ref>Cathy Kunzinger Urwin, ''Agenda for Reform:  Winthrop Rockefeller as Governor of Arkansas, 1967-71 (Fayetteville: Arkansas: Univeristy of Arkansas Press, 1991), p. 166</ref> In an investigation that he conducted, Johnson found that of the 476 Rockefeller appointees as of May 1970, only 86 had contributed money to the state Republican Party. Johnson’s argument was based on the possibility that more Republican appointees would have inspired the party faithful to a greater degree of campaign effort and confidence.<ref>Urwin, pp. 166-167</ref>Johnson said that he had discouraged Rockefeller from running again and had wanted the party to nominate Lieutenant Governor Maurice L. "Footsie" Britt as its standard-bearer to challenge Bumpers, who emerged as an unexpected Democratic nominee by entering and winning the runoff election against former Governor Orval Faubus.<ref>Urwin, p. 174</ref>

Johnson took the view that the state Republican committee should have the main word on patronage appointments, but Rockefeller believed that the favorities of the local committee might not be the best individuals to hold state appointed offices. Johnson also said that the party needed more "prestigious and upstanding citizens" in each community to take an active role in the local Republican organizations.<ref>Urwin, pp. 171-172</ref>

Johnson took the view that the state Republican committee should have the main word on patronage appointments, but Rockefeller believed that the favorities of the local committee might not be the best individuals to hold state appointed offices. Johnson also said that the party needed more "prestigious and upstanding citizens" in each community to take an active role in the local Republican organizations.<ref>Urwin, pp. 171-172</ref>