Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson will serve as the keynote speaker at the 20th anniversary celebration and tribute dinner for the John H. Johnson Museum.
The event, scheduled for Oct. 4 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., will be held at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center in Little Rock. It is presented by the Friends of the John H. Johnson Museum in partnership with the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center.
The evening will recognize Hutchinson for signing legislation that established John H. Johnson Day as a statewide memorial holiday, along with the nine state lawmakers who sponsored the bill during the 92nd General Assembly in 2019.
Honorees include Sens. Fred Love and Jamie Scott, former Sens. Eddie Cheatham, Joyce Elliott and Linda Chesterfield, and former Reps. Vivian Flowers, Fred Allen, LeeAnn Burch and Don Glover.
“John H. Johnson proved that determination, vision and faith in one’s community can redefine history,” said Angela Courtney, spokesperson for the Friends of the John H. Johnson Museum. “His life is a testament to the power of using media to uplift, inform and inspire.”
Hutchinson also spoke about Johnson’s lasting impact and Arkansas legacy.
“John H. Johnson’s story reminds us that greatness can emerge from any corner of our state,” Hutchinson said. “His influence reached millions, and his commitment to truth and representation remains a guiding light. I appreciate the important legislation that honors John H. Johnson, an American icon and Arkansas entrepreneurial giant.”
John H. Johnson, widely regarded as one of the most influential African American publishers in U.S. history, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996 and received more than 30 honorary degrees during his lifetime.
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