The legacy of Lloyd K. Johnson

Many northland residents know of the good works of the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation. But they may not know just why Lloyd was so passionate about his support of the community.

An extremely successful businessman, Lloyd was born and raised in Grand Marais. He graduated from Grand Marais High School in 1925, and completed his formal education at the University of Minnesota, earning an undergraduate degree and a law degree.

Lloyd began his professional career as the Cook County Attorney.

Lloyd’s  contributions include the purchase of substantial amounts of tax-forfeit land leading to significant growth of the Superior National Forest, which supported the creation of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness; the land transfer which helped create the Grand Portage State Park at the High Falls; and the acquisition of land for the development of three of Minnesota’s Taconite plants including 50,000 aces for Oglebay Norton’s plant in Silver Bay.

In addition, Lloyd partnered with Bill Smith, to develop the Mount Royal shopping center in Duluth and with Don McDonald, transitioned the Zenith Shipbuilding Company in Duluth to a forest products manufacturing operation called Superwood. He oversaw that company until its sale to Georgia Pacific in 1986.

In Grand Marais, Lloyd planned and had built the Johnson Heritage Post at the location of his parent’s original trading post to showcase his mother’s art and provide a venue for local artists.

The Johnson Heritage Post was then donated to the Cook County Historical Society as a lasting legacy for the community to celebrate art and showcase regional artists.

With the creation of a family  foundation in 1975, Lloyd began regular contributions to favorite charities that positively impacted North Shore communities. Lloyd received the 2003 Citizen of the Year award from the Grand Marais Lions Club. 

With Lloyd’s passing in 2006, substantial resources were transferred to the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation and the foundation’s board hired its first director, Joan Gardner-Goodno. The board and staff have developed a formal grant making process to nonprofit entities throughout Cook, Lake and Southern St. Louis counties.

The foundation board also followed through in 2008 on an expressed desire of Lloyd K. Johnson to develop a scholarship for graduating seniors at Cook County High School. Since the scholarship was established, 49 Cook County High School seniors have been awarded a full scholarship by the Foundation. (Some of them are pictured along with this article.)
 
The Foundation currently has assets of approximately $25,000,000, awards grants of approximately $1,000,000 annually with priorities in education and community and economic development.

Its seven member Board of Directors includes three from Cook County: Bill Hansen, Scott Harrison and Steve Surbaugh.
Check out the Foundation’s website or call the Foundation’s office at (218) 726-9000 with any questions.
 
And give a listen to this interview with Executive Director Joan Gardner Goodno about the wonderful legacy of Lloyd K. Johnson.