by Dave Trevino and Pamela Cox
As I write this, the nation is boisterously celebrating the Fourth of July with food, fun, and fireworks. In my mind, this is the right time to celebrate those whose lives have stood for independence. One such individual is Johnson Bradshaw.
Born June 28, 1917, Johnson grew up in an era when today’s technology was at best a futuristic dream. However, he was quick to find his place in the working world as a vending stand manager, a job he began in 1937, the same year he graduated from the Tennessee School for the Blind. He did his bookkeeping on a type slate and kept records with a slate and stylus. In 1944 Johnson Bradshaw married Katherine Gibbs, and the two of them worked side by side for 37 years co-managing the business. The workplace helped Johnson develop his talents for talking to people, making them feel at ease, and finding out what they really wanted. He made friends easily with his winning personality and sense of humor. These skills, coupled with his keen interest in politics, led him to run for and win a seat in the Tennessee state legislature in 1945. The political contacts he made, as well as the valuable experience with the strategies and machinations of state government, laid a firm foundation for the role Johnson played in the leadership of the organized blind in Tennessee.
For example, Johnson served as the first president of the Tennessee Association of the Blind in 1946, and later also served as president of the Tennessee Council of the Blind, the ACB’s Tennessee affiliate. In addition to having served as state president, Johnson has served on every committee connected with the council. He was an authority on the constitution and bylaws, as well as a qualified parliamentarian. But his wealth of knowledge didn’t close his mind to progress. Johnson knew the value of fresh ideas, and was always there to encourage and offer guidance to new members both young and old.
He once said, “When the time comes for me to step aside, I want to be sure that the organization’s in good hands.”
TSB superintendent Ralph Brewer remembers Johnson Bradshaw’s leadership capability with fondness and respect. “When I was president of the TSB Alumni in the ‘70s,” he recalls, “I relied heavily on Johnson for help with procedural questions. Any time he wasn’t re-elected to the board, I appointed him because of his knowledge and expertise.”
Johnson’s political savvy reached beyond ACB to benefit blind people at large. In the late ‘70s, the commissioner of Tennessee Business Enterprises (TBE) attempted to raise the vendors’ monthly fees. Johnson, because of his unique position as a former legislator, was allowed to address the legislature on this crucial matter. His persuasive rhetoric led to the defeat of the commissioner’s proposal. On another occasion, a coalition represented by Ralph Brewer, Lev Williams (president of the Tennessee Federation) and Johnson (TCB president) got a bill passed that gave parents the option of enrolling their blind children directly at TSB rather than having to go through their local school systems.
Johnson was very involved on behalf of educating blind children in Tennessee. He worked for two years as a field representative for the Tennessee School for the Blind, going into the mountains and other remote areas to convince parents of blind children that independence begins with education.
He was also a strong proponent of braille and fought to preserve it in the face of increasing reliance on technology. “A blind person needs to be able to read and write for himself whether the power is on or not,” he used to say emphatically. “I take my slate with me everywhere I go, even to the bathroom.”
Keenly aware that his sighted peers formed their impressions of all blind people by watching him, Johnson was very careful about his appearance. Both he and Katherine always dressed to the nines, and conducted themselves with poise and grace.
Johnson Bradshaw died March 2, 2000. He is survived by Katherine, his wife of 56 years. He will be sorely missed by friends across the country. May his life of dedication and service to others inspire all of us to move forward with dignity, wisdom, and purpose. Now that he has “stepped aside,” let’s fulfill his wish that “the organization’s in good hands.”