Wynn Johnson
A lot of young men are proud to follow in their father’s footsteps, but Wynn Johnson of Plymouth, Minn., knew better than to become a coal miner, one of the most dangerous professions there is. Before he was born, Johnson’s father had been injured so badly in a coal mining accident he was disabled. His paternal grandfather had also been crippled in a coal mining accident and his grandfather on his mother’s side had been killed.
So, on Sept. 9, 1971, with a high school diploma under his belt, Johnson left his hometown of Weeksbury, Ky., and headed out into the world to seek his fortune. He moved to Springfield, Ohio, and worked for a short time at Vining Broom, a manufacturing company that made brooms and mops. In the mid 1970s he joined the Marines and traveled the world.
After his tour of duty ended, he returned to Vining Broom and became a plant manager. He remained in that position for a few years then left to start up his own contracting company in 1980. Today, Johnson remains an independent contractor, working in the communications industry. He works frequently for Frontier Communications, installing and testing electronics and cable.
Johnson attended Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He and his family now call Minnesota’s Twin Cities area home.
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