Johnson was born in [[Denver]], [[Colorado]], to Henry Johnson and the former Samantha Haines. In 1934, he graduated from high school in the capital city of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Four years later, he graduated from the University of Wyoming at Laramie, where he was the president of the Blue Pencil journalism honorary society and campus correspondent for ''The Wyoming Tribune Eagle,'' then known as the ''State Tribune'' of Cheyenne. He was also a member of the varsity wrestling team and an intramural boxing champion.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2011/06/19/obituaries/02obit_06-19-11.txt|title=Robert H. Johnson Obituary|publisher=''The Wyoming Tribune Eagle''|accessdate=June 23, 2011}}</ref> | Johnson was born in [[Denver]], [[Colorado]], to Henry Johnson and the former Samantha Haines. In 1934, he graduated from high school in the capital city of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Four years later, he graduated from the University of Wyoming at Laramie, where he was the president of the Blue Pencil journalism honorary society and campus correspondent for ''The Wyoming Tribune Eagle,'' then known as the ''State Tribune'' of Cheyenne. He was also a member of the varsity wrestling team and an intramural boxing champion.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2011/06/19/obituaries/02obit_06-19-11.txt|title=Robert H. Johnson Obituary|publisher=''The Wyoming Tribune Eagle''|accessdate=June 23, 2011}}</ref> |