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'''Joseph Benjamin Johnson, II''' (1934 – January 2, 2018), was an [[African-American]] educator who was the third president of Grambling State University in [[Louisiana]] and the seventeenth president of Talladega College in [[Alabama]], both historically black institutions of higher education.

'''Joseph Benjamin Johnson, II''' (1934 – January 2, 2018), was an [[African-American]] educator who was the third president of Grambling State University in [[Louisiana]] and the seventeenth president of Talladega College in [[Alabama]], both historically black institutions of higher education.

A native of [[New Orleans]], Louisiana, Johnson was one of three children of Sidney T. Johnson, Sr., and the former Lillie Mickens. He procured his Bachelor of Science degree in 1957 from the then Grambling College and his master's and [[Ph.D.]] from the [[University of Colorado]] iat Boulder, [[Colorado]]. He engaged too in postdoctoral studies at [[Harvard University]] in Cambridge, [[Massachusetts]].  Johnson played [[basketball]] at Grambling College under Coach Eddie Robinson (1919-2007) and was a [[football]] quarterback while serving in the [[United States Army]], stationed in [[Germany]]. He began his teaching career in [[Shreveport]], Louisiana. As a high school basketball coach, he coached Greenville Park High School in Hammond in Tangiipahoa Parish to the 1968 state championship.<ref name=obit/>  

A native of [[New Orleans]], Louisiana, Johnson was one of three children of Sidney T. Johnson, Sr., and the former Lillie Mickens. He procured his Bachelor of Science degree in 1957 from the then Grambling College and his master's and [[Ph.D.]] from the [[University of Colorado]] at Boulder, [[Colorado]]. He engaged too in postdoctoral studies at [[Harvard University]] in Cambridge, [[Massachusetts]].  Johnson played [[basketball]] at Grambling College under Coach Eddie Robinson (1919-2007) and was a [[football]] quarterback while serving in the [[United States Army]], stationed in [[Germany]]. He began his teaching career in [[Shreveport]], Louisiana. As a high school basketball coach, he coached Greenville Park High School in Hammond in Tangiipahoa Parish to the 1968 state championship.<ref name=obit/>  

From 1977 to 1991, Johnson succeeded Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones (1905-1982) as the Grambling president. He soon embarked on a 10-point plan to improve the historically black institution located in Grambling in Lincoln Parish just west of [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], During his tenure, the Grambling enrollment doubled, faculty salaries increased, and the buildings and grounds were upgraded. He expanded communication with alumni. He was president of Talladega College from 1991 to 1998, at which he launched reforms similar to those he had undertaken at Grambling, including increased enrollment and corporate, foundation, and federal support for the school.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thenewsstar/obituary.aspx?n=joseph-benjamin-johnson&pid=187744810|title=Dr. Joseph Benjamin Johnson obituary|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|date=January 6, 2018|accessdate=February 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/top-stories/gsus-3rd-president-dr-joseph-johnson-passes-away/899381600|title=GSU's 3rd President, Dr. Joseph Johnson, passes away|publisher=Arklatexhomepage.com|author=Nikki Henderson|date=January 3, 2018|accessdate=February 7, 2018}}</ref>

From 1977 to 1991, Johnson succeeded Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones (1905-1982) as the Grambling president. He soon embarked on a 10-point plan to improve the historically black institution located in Grambling in Lincoln Parish just west of [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], During his tenure, the Grambling enrollment doubled, faculty salaries increased, and the buildings and grounds were upgraded. He expanded communication with alumni. He was president of Talladega College from 1991 to 1998, at which he launched reforms similar to those he had undertaken at Grambling, including increased enrollment and corporate, foundation, and federal support for the school.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thenewsstar/obituary.aspx?n=joseph-benjamin-johnson&pid=187744810|title=Dr. Joseph Benjamin Johnson obituary|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|date=January 6, 2018|accessdate=February 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/top-stories/gsus-3rd-president-dr-joseph-johnson-passes-away/899381600|title=GSU's 3rd President, Dr. Joseph Johnson, passes away|publisher=Arklatexhomepage.com|author=Nikki Henderson|date=January 3, 2018|accessdate=February 7, 2018}}</ref>