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Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Jerry Johnson
Thank you for joining us in honoring the legacy of Dr. Jerry Johnson, who retired from Baylor University after 46 years of service. A dedicated mentor and teacher, Dr. Johnson made an impact on generations of students in his years at Baylor. To honor his passing on May 4, this page was created to help former students and colleagues honor his memory through gifts to his scholarship, ultimately benefitting future students like the ones he taught, mentored and encouraged in his many years of service.
The Jerry W. Johnson Endowed Scholarship Fund in Marketing
The Jerry W. Johnson Endowed Scholarship Fund in Marketing was established in 2021, in honor of Dr. Jerry W. Johnson’s retirement from Baylor University in February 2021 after 46 years of service. Dr. Johnson passed away May 4 and is survived by Jane, his wife of 50 years and many beloved family and friends.
His devotion to Baylor began long before he started teaching in the Department of Marketing within the Hankamer School of Business. He came to Baylor to pursue a degree in music after having been awarded a scholarship to study percussion. A proud member of the Golden Wave Band, Concert Band, and Baylor Orchestra, Dr. Johnson chose instead to devote his studies to business and received his BBA in Management in 1963. He continued at Baylor and received his MBA in Marketing in 1965. He eventually went on to the University of Arkansas where he earned his Ph.D. in Marketing in 1972.
Dr. Johnson became the assistant vice president of Business Affairs at the University of Arkansas in 1970. He returned to Waco in 1974 to begin his career at Baylor, first as an assistant professor, and in 1981 he became an associate professor of Marketing. He was a professor from 1991 until his retirement. Dr. Johnson served as chair of the department from 1989 to 2000.
During his time at Baylor, he taught and mentored well over 5,000 students. His influence on Baylor students spans multiple generations of Baylor Bears from the 1970’s to 2020.
While he taught and mentored countless students throughout his career, Dr. Johnson may be most well-known for his “weekend job,” as the voice of the Golden Wave Band, announcing half-time shows and performances for all Baylor football games and bowl appearances for 46 years.
Dr. Johnson’s influence continued through his work as a faculty advisor to Beta Gamma Sigma, as a member of the advisory task force for the Baylor Alumni Association, and as a committee member of Baylor at Independence, a group that was instrumental in guiding the university in developing the original site of Baylor at Independence, Texas.
Dr. Johnson was active outside the Baylor community as well. Through his consulting work, he furthered the efforts of several Central Texas community projects and Main Street Programs in Texas and Mississippi. Dr. Johnson worked as a member of the Waco Chamber of Commerce and as a board member for the Heart of Texas Fair. He served as a board member of First University Credit Union and as a member of the Lake Brazos Rotary Club. He also played percussion and was a board member for the Waco Community Band for more than 20 years. A member of First Baptist Church Waco, Dr. Johnson loved being a member of the FBC orchestra and served on several committees. He and his wife Jane celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in May 2020.
This endowed scholarship fund provides assistance to deserving students attending Baylor University who are enrolled in the Hankamer School of Business, with preference given to students who are pursuing a major in the Department of Marketing.
**The family of Dr. Jerry W. Johnson will be notified of gifts given to support Baylor Marketing students.
