THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 24, 1996 TAG: 9607240349
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: 124 lines
Aubrey P. Johnson Jr., a self-made city manager who led Portsmouth through 16 years of change and controversy, died Tuesday morning of kidney failure at age 79.
``I am deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved former city manager,'' Mayor James W. Holley III said Tuesday. Holley was elected to his first term on City Council during Johnson's tenure.
``He was the first city manager I had the pleasure of working with,'' Holley said. ``He trained me.''
Johnson, who retired in 1974, got a major share of credit for the development of the Portsmouth Marine Terminal at Pinners Point, which made the city a pioneer in containerized cargo handling.
``It was his vision that took the dirt from the Midtown Tunnel construction and put it on Pinners Point,'' former Portsmouth City Manager Bob Williams said Tuesday. ``That's where he built the first container piers in Hampton Roads.''
As the story goes, the General Assembly had appropriated money for a new terminal with the notion that it would go to Norfolk, but Johnson was able to get a lot of that money before Norfolk ever got ready to ask for it, Williams said. That enabled Portsmouth to build the terminal, which later became part of the Virginia Port Authority holdings.
Williams, who was city manager from 1975-81, was hired from Newport News Shipbuilding in 1966 by Johnson, who instructed him to computerize the city's operation.
``He was into computers, and Portsmouth was way ahead of anybody else around here in automation in the 1960s and '70s,'' Williams said. ``He was a self-made man, and it's unbelievable that he taught himself the vision he had.''
Johnson finished high school and worked for the American National Bank in Portsmouth. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he was hired as city clerk and ultimately moved up to city manager.
As manager, Johnson presided over the redevelopment of the downtown waterfront. New construction included the buildings housing the jail, courts and police department, the Seawall and Crawford Parkway.
While the use of waterfront property for criminal justice activities now is criticized by some, the story was different in the 1960s. According to Williams, much of the work was done with federal money. U.S. funds also were available for the Olde Towne preservation projects that began on Johnson's watch.
Johnson also was manager when Churchland and Cradock were annexed by Portsmouth. When Norfolk County and South Norfolk merged to create Chesapeake in 1963, Portsmouth went to court to claim Churchland as part of the city.
The case went to the state Supreme Court, which ruled for Portsmouth and ordered the lower courts to hear the case. Ultimately, the court gave Portsmouth about 12 square miles and drew a city line. Neither the space nor the erratic city line pleased Johnson.
``He agonized over whether to take the decision or to recommend to City Council to appeal it,'' Williams said.
Ultimately, Johnson decided against the appeal because Portsmouth already was struggling to pay $500,000 to Chesapeake as ordered by the court to make up for ``lost revenue'' and to assume the existing debt for some elementary school buildings and the since-razed Churchland High School building on High Street.
Johnson was well-respected by many elected officials who served with him, former City Councilman Burrell Johnson said. ``He was one fine city manager,'' Johnson said. ``He kept expenses down while doing some marvelous things.''
PORTSMOUTH - Aubrey P. Johnson Jr., a self-made city manager who led Portsmouth through 16 years of change and controversy, died Tuesday morning of kidney failure at age 79.
``I am deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved former city manager,'' Mayor James W. Holley III said Tuesday. Holley was elected to his first term on City Council during Johnson's tenure.
``He was the first city manager I had the pleasure of working with,'' Holley said. ``He trained me.''
Johnson, who retired in 1974, got a major share of credit for the development of the Portsmouth Marine Terminal at Pinners Point, which made the city a pioneer in containerized cargo handling.
``It was his vision that took the dirt from the Midtown Tunnel construction and put it on Pinners Point,'' former Portsmouth City Manager Bob Williams said Tuesday. ``That's where he built the first container piers in Hampton Roads.''
As the story goes, the General Assembly had appropriated money for a new terminal with the notion that it would go to Norfolk, but Johnson was able to get a lot of that money before Norfolk ever got ready to ask for it, Williams said. That enabled Portsmouth to build the terminal, which later became part of the Virginia Port Authority holdings.
Williams, who was city manager from 1975-81, was hired from Newport News Shipbuilding in 1966 by Johnson, who instructed him to computerize the city's operation.
``He was into computers, and Portsmouth was way ahead of anybody else around here in automation in the 1960s and '70s,'' Williams said. ``He was a self-made man, and it's unbelievable that he taught himself the vision he had.''
Johnson finished high school and worked for the American National Bank in Portsmouth. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he was hired as city clerk and ultimately moved up to city manager.
As manager, Johnson presided over the redevelopment of the downtown waterfront. New construction included the buildings housing the jail, courts and police department, the Seawall and Crawford Parkway.
While the use of waterfront property for criminal justice activities now is criticized by some, the story was different in the 1960s. According to Williams, much of the work was done with federal money. U.S. funds also were available for the Olde Towne preservation projects that began on Johnson's watch.
Johnson also was manager when Churchland and Cradock were annexed by Portsmouth. When Norfolk County and South Norfolk merged to create Chesapeake in 1963, Portsmouth went to court to claim Churchland as part of the city.
The case went to the state Supreme Court, which ruled for Portsmouth and ordered the lower courts to hear the case. Ultimately, the court gave Portsmouth about 12 square miles and drew a city line. Neither the space nor the erratic city line pleased Johnson.
``He agonized over whether to take the decision or to recommend to City Council to appeal it,'' Williams said.
Ultimately, Johnson decided against the appeal because Portsmouth already was struggling to pay $500,000 to Chesapeake as ordered by the court to make up for ``lost revenue'' and to assume the existing debt for some elementary school buildings and the since-razed Churchland High School building on High Street.
Johnson was well-respected by many elected officials who served with him, former City Councilman Burrell Johnson said. ``He was one fine city manager,'' Johnson said. ``He kept expenses down while doing some marvelous things.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Aubrey P. Johnson Jr. got a major share of credit for the
development of the Portsmouth Marine Terminal.
KEYWORDS: OBITUARY DEATH PROFILE by CNB