Larry Richard JOHNSON

JOHNSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/14/2010 at 13:42:18

LARRY RICHARD JOHNSON (1944-1998), a founding member of the NWA and its 20th President, died in Herndon, Virginia, on 30 July 1998 of cancer. He was born in Klemme, Iowa, on 6 May 1944. His contributions to operational meteorology spanned over thirty years in careers with the U. S. Air Force and Litton PRC Inc. Larry served 23 years in the USAF Air Weather Service. His accomplishments included rawinsonde observer, Tinker AFB OK; Command Briefer, Udorn AB and Nakhon Phanom AB, Thailand; Plans and Manpower Staff Officer, HQ AF Systems Command, Andrews AFB, MD; Chief, Computer Graphics Section and Mission Applications Branch, Assistant Operations Officer, and Special Projects Forecaster, Air Force Global Weather Central, Offutt AFB, NE; Chief, HQ USAF Weather Assignments Office, HQ AF Military Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, TX; and Director, Weather Systems Acquisition, HQ Air Weather Service, Scott AFB, IL.

His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award with four oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Training Ribbon. Larry retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on 1 August 1988.

Larry worked for 10 years at Litton PRC Inc. He served in a variety of positions on the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) program, the integrating element of the $4.5 billion NWS Modernization Program. He served during the Definition, Development, and Deployment phases as Principal Applications Scientist, Department Manager, Executive Manager, and Deputy Program Manager. Known at PRC as "Mr. AWIPS", Larry's tenure on the program was longer than any other person, and his contributions to the success of AWIPS stand out among all others. He also was a leader in supporting professional associations and his superb efforts were key to PRC's early and continued support in sponsoring NWA Annual Meeting activities and sponsoring an AMS Scholarship and Fellowship program.

Larry earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in meteorology in 1969 and 1979, respectively, from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He also graduated from professional military schools � in 1983 from Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL; in 1986 from Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL; and in 1987 from National Defense University, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Leslie McNair, Washington DC.

Larry was a founding member of the National Weather Association. He served on the Organizational Start-up Steering Committee, Nominating Committee, Program and Arrangements Committee, Membership Committee, and Strategic Planning Committee. He was elected Councilor for the period 1978-80, Vice-President for 1982 and President for 1995.

He authored papers published in Advanced Imaging Magazine, NWA Newsletter, National Weather Digest, and numerous AMS conference preprints. He also wrote many news articles regarding operational meteorology for organizational journals and newsletters, city newspapers and magazines.

Larry loved Civil War history and was actively involved in reenactments of Civil War battles of the Eastern Theatre. Most recently, he participated in the reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg on 3-4 July 1998. He wrote many articles published in various Civil War periodicals.

Larry was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors on 11 August 1998. He is survived by his wife Laurel of Herndon, Virginia; his mother Minnie of Prescott, Arizona; his children Julie of McComb, Iowa, and Heather of Herndon, Virginia; his brother Roger of Prescott, Arizona; and his grandson Nicholas.

http://www.nwas.org/newsletters/aug98.php