Robert Lynn Johnston

Celebrating the vibrant life of Robert L. Johnston, 83, a devoted family man and lifelong educator. Bob was a person of diverse interests who successfully navigated two major careers in Dallas, Texas.

Husband of the late Dr. Judy Nell Rains Johnston, Bob was born to Clyde Davis (C.D.) and Mary Jane Roper Johnston in Dallas, Texas. He is survived by his sons, Gregory (Maggie Fu) and Jeffrey Johnston and daughters Sharla Moore Hudspeth (John) and Shelly Moore, and a sister, Cheri Johnston (Jim Hutchens). His grandchildren were the brightest light in his life: Kate and Lucy Johnston, Andrew Fu, Lindsay, Lesley, and Libby Hudspeth. Other survivors include niece Jane Hullum Berglund (Donald) and sons Everett and Henry and nephews Matthew Hullum (Anna) and sons Webb and Mills, and Khanh Duong (Kitty) and their children Kris, Keifer, and Kate. His beloved dog Cody misses Bob mightily.

Bob’s career path reflected discipline from age 10, collecting bottles under grandstands for pocket change to Dallas Times Herald news carrier from age 11 to a thriving stint as pantomime artist with his sister, managed by their dad. Bob then ushered at the Music Hall at Fair Park for the Dallas Summer Musicals, complete with epaulets! That stint led him to a lifelong love of musical theatre and entertainment. Curiously during that time, he also became a Teamster, in order to work as a dock hand, earning for college!

After his 1959 graduation from W. H. Adamson High School in Dallas, Bob received a B.S.Ed in 1962 from North Texas State University (now UNT), followed by his M.Ed.,1966, also from NTSU. During those college years, he pursued his minor in speech and drama by working as an announcer and DJ at several radio stations, including KLIF in Dallas.

Bob had remarkable professional success in two significant careers. His impact as a teacher at Adamson, to administrator for the Dallas Independent School District left an indelible mark on countless lives. His dedication, fostering a love for the written and spoken word will be remembered by generations of students who remember him as a favorite. As a Dallas ISD administrator, Bob served as Special Assistant to eleven superintendents and interims, during which time, he also became known as “The Voice of DISD” through his weekly tv program. His tenure as School Board Secretary was unmatched.

Retiring from DISD in 2000 after 38 years of service to Dallas public education, Bob accepted a position as Administrative Assistant to 3 successive Dallas County Judges. After he retired for the second time he and Judy served as consultants in education, peer-reviewing and publishing reports for North Texas schools for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Bob’s service on the board of the Adamson High School Alumni Association and President of the Adamson High School Scholarship Foundation was of primary importance to him in retirement. Additionally, he served as a board member of the Highland on the Creek Homeowners’ Association and the Dallas Police Department’s Volunteers in Patrol program. He was a member of the Dallas Historical Society, Preservation Dallas, and the Dallas and Texas Retired Teachers Associations.

Awards were plentiful in Bob’s life, and among his most cherished were being named to the Adamson High School Hall of Fame in 1970, and later as a charter member of the Dallas School Administrator’s Association’s Hall of Fame in 2000. That same year, he received a Recognition of Service Award from the Texas Association of School Boards.

Bob and wife Judy shared a love of travel, which included 25 cruises that took them to many corners of the world, leaving cherished memories. Many of those adventures were shared with close friends of 68 years, Darrell and LouAnna Chambers.

Diverse interests kept Bob a charming conversationalist. He had institutional memory of Dallas ISD, but also wide knowledge of movie theaters, public transportation—planes and trains, but especially rail. Architecture, music and musical theatre were important to him, as was fine dining (or any dining)! He was first a fan of UNT, but then UT (his boys) and later Texas A&M (his girls), (and on to USC, Occidental, OU, SMU, SUNY Stony Brook—credit to grandchildren).

His post-travel career focus has been family: providing love, support, entertainment, and commuter services for grandchildren, weekly dinners at his favorite Mariano’s, college and Cowboys football on tv, staying in touch with family and friends and keeping current on politics and public affairs, local and national.

Memorial donations may be made to the Adamson Alumni Association, PO Box 4753, Dallas, TX 75208 or the Adamson High School Scholarship Foundation, PO Box 765256, Dallas, TX 75376-5256.

A Memorial Reception will be held Saturday, February 3 from 10AM-12PM at Grove Hill Funeral Home 3920 Samuell Blvd.