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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/>  

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=https://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>

Johnson worked at Grambling to enhance the funding of new degree programs accredited by state and national rating agencies. He was active in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, and the Office for the Advancement of the Public Negro Colleges. He received an honorary doctorate from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, [[Michigan]], Gandhigram University of  [[India]] and Grambling. He received the "Tree of Life" award from the Jewish National Fund and the "Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award" from the University of Colorado. He was a recipient of the [[Thurgood Marshall]] Education Achievement Award and an inductee of the Grambling Legend Hall of Fame. He also held the honorary title of Grambling president-emeritus. He was a former trustee of the board of St. Mark American Methodist Episcopal Church in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]], where he lived during his retirement.<ref name=obit/>

Johnson worked at Grambling to enhance the funding of new degree programs accredited by state and national rating agencies. He was active in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, and the Office for the Advancement of the Public Negro Colleges. He received an honorary doctorate from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, [[Michigan]], Gandhigram University of  [[India]] and Grambling. He received the "Tree of Life" award from the Jewish National Fund and the "Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award" from the University of Colorado. He was a recipient of the [[Thurgood Marshall]] Education Achievement Award and an inductee of the Grambling Legend Hall of Fame. He also held the honorary title of Grambling president-emeritus. He was a former trustee of the board of St. Mark American Methodist Episcopal Church in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]], where he lived during his retirement.<ref name=obit/>