photo by Jim Tatum

General Walter F. Johnson III delivers his remarks to a large group gathered at the Woodlands Inn and Resort dining room for the first annual Rembrance and Celebration of the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

A large group gathered Wednesday morning at a breakfast at the Woodlands Inn to celebrate the life and example of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The occasion, co-hosted by Woodlands Inn and Resort and Evening Post Books, featured two distinguished guest speakers, Bryant K. Smith and Gen. Walter F. Johnson III.

Dr. King’s life and mission means many things to many people. Smith touched on two important points in his remarks. One, the power of small gestures is enormous – even if small gestures are often unnoticed – and two, Dr. King was about positively influencing youth.

To illustrate his points he pointed out that GI Joe first hit the toy market in 1963. Two years later, in 1965, Hasbro, the company that created GI Joe, introduced the first African American action figures. This black GI Joe did not come with a cook’s apron or a shovel to dig ditches; he wore the same uniform, carried the same military accouterments, and did the same jobs on the battlefield, Smith said.

“This toy was placed into production at a time when the United States was battling racial unrest and civic disorder over the issue of civil rights and equality for African Americans,” Smith said.

With the introduction of this action figure, children could play and realize early on that people from all walks of life can and do make contributions to all of society.

By contrast, White Barbie doll was created in 1959; girls would not see a black Barbie until 1983, he said.

Johnson discussed his life, his role models, and the writing of his new book, “I Can Do That: Advice for Spiritual Entrepreneurs.”

The book, an autobiography, is intended to encourage, inspire, and give practical advice to young people on how to succeed in life. Many kids today are in trouble, in crisis, because of the life situations in which they find themselves.

“When you’re in that situation, you just can’t see the other side,” he said. “But this is a land of opportunity – you can get out of that.

Johnson is living proof that with faith, hard work, education, and positive role models, you can escape a bad situation and be successful in life.

Johnson grew up in the Gadsden Green housing projects in Charleston, becoming a star athlete for Immaculate Conception High School and attending West Virginia College, now West Virginia University, on a scholarship. He joined the Army ROTC program, graduated, embarked on a 26-year career in the military, and became one of the youngest officers to attain the rank of brigadier general. He held a variety of important posts, ultimately commanding the army’s Medical Service Corps. After retirement, he began working as the director for Region 7 of the American Hospital Association and was promoted to senior vice-president. In 1993 he founded and acted as president and CEO of the Institute for Diversity in Health-Services Management.

“Then at the ripe old age of 56, I decided I wanted to be an entrepreneur,” he said.  Johnson founded Eagle Group International, which he and his family built into a major defense contractor, selling the company in 2008 to Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Johnson ultimately pointed to the power of positive role models, that he would not be where he is today without positive role models. Dr. King is a role model in the most positive embodiment of the word, but all people can be positive role models, he said.

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