May 26, 1944, was the date Ronald took his first breath and May 20, 2024, was the day he took his last. We want to talk about his dash. The dash doesn’t just represent a timeline, it embodies a lifetime. This dash represents Ronald Dean Johnson, a trailblazer.
Ronald was born in Binghamton, NY. He was the 4th of 10 children born to the union of Andrew Johnson and Marjorie Cave. The family moved to Harvey, IL when Ronald was a child. Upon graduating high school Ronald joined the Air Force and was stationed at Luke AFB. He was honorably discharged from the military in 1966. From that point on, his life was anything but ordinary.
Ronald worked at KCAC as a DJ, KALF as a DJ, KXIV as a DJ and KOOL TV as a sportscaster. During his time as a sportscaster, he was a trailblazer. He was the first Black man in the state of Arizona to anchor the news on air solo. Opening doors – his dash.
Ronald created Subscription radio thirty years before Sirius radio. He would record playlists and dialogue on cassettes; and sell subscriptions to his catalogs and programs. His tagline was “Your window to the world of music – Subscription Radio”. Forging new paths – his dash.
Ronald donated his equipment to the church so that music for the soul could be broadcast.
Giving servant – his dash.
Ronald, along with two friends, opened and operated the Disco Lady Club and lounge in late 1976 - 1980. Ronald stepped away when he won the election for Justice of the Peace. On September 7th, 1982, he was commissioned Director of the office of Affirmative Action under then Governor Rose Mofford. July 3rd, 1984, Governor Bruce Babbitt commissioned him to be a member of the board of Pardons and Paroles. Public service – his dash.
Ronald was the father of three and a father figure to many. None more so than his nephew Kendel. He told a 3-year-old Kendel (who had just lost his father), “I can’t replace your daddy. But you will always be a part of my team”. From that moment on, Kendel referred to him as Team. Standing in the gap – his dash.
Ronald and Edna were married 52 years. Loving – his dash.
A son, a brother, a husband, a father, an uncle, a grandfather, a great-grandfather, a friend, a colleague, a man, a Trailblazer.
Preceding him in death was his father, mother, daughter (Tiffany Johnson); two brothers David and Allen and two sisters Andrea and April.
Left to cherish his memory is wife Edna; daughter, April Hundley; son, Christian “Dondi” Johnson; sisters, Phyllis Smallwood and Fern Dixon; brothers Michael (Michelle), Timothy, and Steve; 7 grandchildren, Paris and Brett Hundley; Christian Taylor Campbell; Tiffany, Jacouri, Mekaylah and Jamari Johnson; God-Daughter, Joely Nelson; 4 great-grandchildren, Aalijah, Xavion, Khalil, Journi and Londyn and a host of other family and friends.
A visitation for Ronald will be held Friday, June 14, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Resthaven / Carr-Tenney Mortuary & Memorial Gardens, 4310 East Southern Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85042. A funeral service will occur Friday, June 14, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, 4310 East Southern Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85042. A committal will occur Friday, June 14, 2024 from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM, 4310 East Southern Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85042.
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