Leon H. Johnson

Leon H. Johnson (March 6, 1908 – June 18, 1969) was an American chemist and mathematician who served as President of Montana State University from 1964 to 1969. A group of historians named him one of Montana State's four most important presidents in 2011.

Early life and education Leon Johnson was born March 6, 1908, in Hawley, Minnesota, to Hans L. and Petra (Solum) J. Johnson. He had four siblings: Brothers Harvey, Burtrum and Hans, and sister Orpha. His parents were both of Norwegian descent, and he grew up speaking perfect Norwegian.

He enrolled at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemistry and mathematics in 1932. He was promoted to full professor in 1948.

In 1955, Johnson was appointed Dean of the Graduate Division.

Deeply committed to the college's research function, he pushed for MSC to be named a university—a change Renne had advocated since the early 1950s, and which the Montana state legislature approved on July 1, 1965. At that time, the school received its new name, Montana State University (MSU). Bachelor's degree programs in economics, English, history, music, political science, and other disciplines were quickly established, as was the first university honors program. Johnson was a devoted admirer of the arts, and MSU's art and music programs blossomed. Johnson quickly worked to end the acrimonious relationship with the University of Montana, and the two schools began to present a united front to the state legislature.

Johnson was a strong conservative—fiscally, socially, and politically. He also continued Renne's policies largely barring from campus speakers who were not clearly in the political mainstream. Johnson's policies were largely supported by the student body and the taxpaying public. MSU practiced a policy known as in loco parentis, in which it acted as a "parent" toward the "children" attending school there. Students themselves accepted these restrictions, which included dress codes, older adult chaperones at dances, a ban on alcohol, and mandatory military training for freshmen and sophomores. Although many American college campuses were engulfed by student radicalism, MSU's student body was as conservative as Johnson was, however, and for many years the biggest issues on campus were ending Saturday morning classes, building student parking lots, and saving an old barn on campus.

There were some campus protests, however. The first protest against the Vietnam War occurred in 1966 (drawing about 100 students), two underground student newspapers briefly appeared, and some students organized clubs to debate issues of the day. and in the summer of 1968 a few faculty organized a symposium on the war. (The stadium funding issue would pass in December 1969 after the university made repeated assurances it would build a fitness center first.)

Personal life Leon Johnson married Esther Pauline Evenson on June 6, 1936. During this period, William Johnstone, a professor of education and Vice President for Administration at MSU, handled most of the governance matters concerning the university. Johnstone acted as an "interim president" in all but name, although he frequently referred matters to Johnson for his input.

Johnson returned to Bozeman on May 22, and attended the university commencement on June 8. On June 18, he saw his physician at about 10:00 A.M. He returned home, and ate lunch at about 1:00 P.M. He had another heart attack at 1:30 P.M., and died immediately in the presence of his wife and a neighbor.

After his death, William Johnstone was named Acting President.

Legacy, honors, and memberships Johnson's alma mater, Concordia College, bestowed a Doctor of Humane Letters on Johnson in 1966.

Johnson was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Chemical Society, Sigma Xi, and Phi Kappa Phi.