William C. Johnson Jr.

William C Johnson Jr passed away November 13, 2023 at the young age of 91. Bill was born Jul 6, 1932 in Kansas City to William C Johnson Sr and Dorothy (Knoche) Johnson. He graduated from Paseo High School and was a proud Pirate to the very end. After Paseo, Bill attended the University of Missouri and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. It was at the University of Missouri that Bill met Dorothy Bergner. They married in 1954. Bill graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1955 and started a 50 year professional career owning three commercial printing companies in the Kansas City area.

In addition to his family, Bill had a lifelong passion for sports car racing. Winning the inaugural 1947 Kansas City Soap Box Derby was just the start of his success. He purchased his first race car in 1967 and began winning races immediately. Sports Car Club of America was a second home for Bill. On the administrative and management side, Bill held virtually every position within SCCA at both the local level and later at the national level including being named Chairman of the Board of SCCA in 1977 and 1978. He continued serving and chairing various committees and boards thru 2015. Along the way, he won or was presented almost every award the SCCA has to recognize his selfless contributions to the sport. The highlight of his motor sports career was being inducted into the SCCA Hall of Fame in 2009. His accomplishments and contributions to the sport are everlasting and many of the visionary ideas he put in place are programs used to this day. Everyone at the track has a story to share when his name is mentioned.

The family would like to extend thanks to the friends Bill made during his stay at Brookdale as well as the staff at VNA Hospice. You were kind and caring and we thank you for that. Bill was preceded in death by wife Dottie Johnson in 2020 after 65 years of marriage. He is survived by three sons, Bill (Nancy), Cliff (Tammy) and Stephen (Brenda), 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, December 16th, from 3:00-5:00pm at Windy City Pub, 13170 State Line Road, Leawood KS.