JOHNSON, R. Ellis

JOHNSON, R. Ellis dies; Ran Rock Island Lines Scottsdale -- R. Ellis Johnson, 64, retired president of the Rock Island Railroad, died Wednesday, June 12, 1974, in Scottsdale Memorial Hospital. Mr. Johnson, of 4828 N. 72nd Way, was born in Osawatomie, Kansas, and started his railroad career with the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1925. He joined the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad in 1936, which later became the Rock Island Lines, and served as general manager, assistant vice president of operations, vice president of operations, executive vice president from 1954 to 1961, when he was elected president of the lines. He remained president until his retirement in 1970, when he moved to Scottsdale. He had been a winter visitor in the Valley since 1960. He also had served as director of the Kansas City Terminal Railway Co., the Waterloo Railway Co., the Railway Express Agnecy Directors Association of American Railroads, and the American Railway Engineers Association. Mr. Johnson had been a member of the DeMolay Legion of Honor, the Union League, and Western Railway Executives. He was a member of the Hiram Club of Scottsdale. Survivors include his wife, Julia M.; daughters, Mrs. Jack Garden and Mrs. George Miner; five brothers, and five grandchildren. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Messinger Mortuary, 7601 E. Indian School. Burial will be in Osawatomie, Kansas. Published Friday, June 14, 1974, in the Arizona Republic.