Document text
A two-term state legislator and longtime Southern Oregonian dedicated to numerous community boards in Jackson County has died. Leigh Johnson, who began a lifetime advocating for Rogue Valley’s community and business interests first as a legislator in the early 1970s before drawing from that experience in the private sector, died Saturday at the age of 75 due to complications from multiple surgeries. Johnson followed up his two terms in the state Legislature between 1971 and 1975 as the state director for Congressman Bob Smith in the 1980s and as vice president of government relations for Harry & David Holdings. More recently, Johnson was on numerous community organization boards that included the Jackson County Fair Board, the Medford Water Commission and ACCESS and the Chamber of Medford/Jackson County. Chamber CEO and President Brad Hicks said he knew Johnson when he worked for state and federal legislators in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and considered him and his wife “very dear friends” — not just as they worked side-by-side putting together events such as Hearts and Vines and Medford, but in social outings as well. “I pretty much worked with Leigh in pretty much all of his capacities,” Hicks said. “We’ve chased each other or mirrored or shadowed each other for the past 25 years, that’s for sure.” Johnson utilized his background as a former legislator to chair the agency’s Legislative Action Team, vetting proposed laws circulating in the state Legislature and giving recommendations to the chamber’s board, according to Hicks. Hicks said he remembers Johnson as someone who brought people together, asked “what if?” and brainstormed ways to make things better. Hicks described that approach as instrumental in getting the chamber’s Red, White and Boom Fourth of July celebration off the ground more than 18 years ago. It started with a “handful of us having breakfast at Roosters” to create a fireworks show for the Medford area, Hicks said. Over the better part of two decades, the show grew by leaps and bounds. “Today it’s one of the largest displays in the state of Oregon,” Hicks said. Hicks described Johnson’s involvement building Red, White and Boom as a legacy his friend would be proud to have. Johnson was a “true patriot,” Hicks said. Johnson had the word “glory” in his personal email address and enjoyed dressing up for Independence Day. “He loved this country,” Hicks said. The show started at Harry & David Field before Johnson used his role as president of the Friends of the Fair Foundation to help move the fireworks show to the Jackson County Expo. The Friends of the Fair Foundation gave Johnson a lifetime achievement award in May of last year, honoring him for donating the first $1,000 to kick off the foundation in 1998. It grew to assets exceeding $370,000. Another friend who ran in similar circles with Johnson was Al Densmore of Medford, who called Johnson “a fine gentleman.” He and Johnson both joined the Legislature in 1971 — Densmore as a Democrat from Medford and Johnson as a Republican small business owner from Ashland. Densmore still remembers jointly sponsoring a bill which helped Jackson County take over the old Odd Fellows cemetery. “That was our very first entrée into the world of state politics,” Densmore said. “It’s hard when you lose someone you’ve known for that long.” Densmore described their years at the capitol as “a much different time in Oregon politics,” and the two men in their 20s forged a common bond. “It just was not the partisanship you see today,” Densmore said. “I think we were both just proud to represent Jackson County.” Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter @ MTCrimeBeat .