Clyde Richard ‘Dick’ Johnston

Clyde Richard “Dick” Johnston, 71, Springfield, was born Sept. 27, 1920, In Jasper, Mo., to Don D. and Bessie Ruth Johnston. He died Tuesday, Jan. 28, 1992, In Cox Medical Center South after an extended Illness.

He was a graduate of University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture. He was united in marriage to Opal Francis Barnhart, Sept. 1, 1941, in St. Louis. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1991. He farmed In Jasper, moved In 1957, joined partnership in a milk bottling and retailing business In Greene County, Mo. then in 1964 launched the Johnston Farm Dairy which he operated until 1970. He was a veteran of World War II with duty in the Army Air Force, serving In the European theatre.

Dick Johnston was active in Jasper County Farm Bureau and was elected Missouri Farm Bureau Vice President in 1965. In 1968 he was elected President and served in this capacity for 20 years. He was a member of the American Farm Bureau Board of Directors from 1970 to 1978, and again from 1982 to 1988.

He was appointed by Governor Kit Bond to the University of Missouri Board of Curators, serving from 1975to 1982; and to the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission In 1984 for a six-year term. He served on various trade commissions and was appointed to the Joint Trade/Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee by the United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of Agriculture. He served on the University of Missouri College of Agriculture Dairy Advisory Council, the Missouri 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees, the College of Agriculture Foundation Board of Trustees, the State Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Council, the Missouri Economic Education Council, and on each Governor’s Council on Agriculture since its inception In 1972.

Honors and recognitions included Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award from Gamma Sigma Delta, the honor society of agriculture; Citation of Merit by the University of Missouri-College of Agriculture Alumni Organization; “Friends of 4-H” Award; Distinguished Service to Vocational Agriculture, from Missouri FFA Association; Honorary Farmer Degree bestowed by Future Farmers of America; twice honored with Missouri State Senate Resolutions; named 1979 MAN OF THE YEAR in service to Missouri Agriculture by “Progressive Farmer” magazine; and selected to receive the University of Missouri 1989 Faculty-Alumni Award. He was a lifetime member of the American Dairy Science Association, Dairy Shrine Club, and Alpha Gamma Rho (agricultural fraternity). He was a member of Willard Lodge #620 A.F. & A.M.

He is survived by his wife, Opal; a daughter, Karren and her husband Thomas Beason, Willard; a son, Don and his wife Elena, Springfield; a daughter, Jane and her husband Howard Huff, Fair Grove; a daughter­in-law, Susan Johnston, Springfield; grandchildren, Lemmuel Beason and his wife Ginger, and Marla, Alexander, and Christopher Johnston; a brother, Harvey, Jasper; a sister, Patricia, Springfield; and a special family friend, Margaret Schowengerdt, Jefferson City. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Charles; a granddaughter, Susan Beason Creed; two brothers, William and Lemmuel; and a sister, Mary Perterman.