Robert L. Johnson, a trailblazing Black corporate executive and mentor, passed away at the age of 91 on July 29. Known for his significant impact in the business world, Johnson spent over 25 years at Sears Roebuck & Co. He later ran his own packaging business for nearly two decades.
Born in Chicago in 1935, Johnson grew up on the South Side. He graduated from DuSable High School and attended Herzl Junior College, now known as Malcolm X College. Johnson then transferred to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before earning a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Roosevelt University in 1958.
Johnson started his career at the Chicago Housing Authority as a community and tenant relations aide and later became an assistant manager. In 1965, he joined Sears as an executive trainee, initially working in a store in the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side.
He rapidly climbed the ranks, eventually joining the corporate headquarters and working in various departments. By 1978, Johnson had become a vice president of men’s clothing. Reflecting on that period, he noted the efforts to integrate executive ranks.
“It was an exciting time because companies wanted to integrate their executive ranks,” Johnson said in a 1997 interview.
His influence extended beyond Sears. In 1988, Johnson co-founded Bagcraft, a flexible packaging manufacturer, with his daughter, Rhonda Johnson. This was part of an initiative supported by PepsiCo and Frito-Lay to foster minority-owned business suppliers. Facing environmental challenges, the company restructured and became Johnson Bryce, earning the title of Frito-Lay’s flexible packaging supplier of the year in 1997.
Johnson was actively involved in civic initiatives. He served on the board of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank and was a trustee at Roosevelt University, where he established the Black Male Leadership Academy in 2014. Last year, this center was renamed the Robert L. Johnson Leadership Academy. It focuses on developing personal, intellectual, and leadership skills in high school students.
During retirement, Johnson enjoyed traveling, sailing, and participating in various boards, including those of the Mystic Seaport Museum, the Evanston History Center, and a local YMCA.
Johnson is survived by his wife of 65 years, Rose Johnson; two daughters, Rhonda and Rosalyn; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. His friend and mentee, Tony Wilkins, praised him for his quiet yet impactful leadership, highlighting his dedication to mentoring others.
The private funeral services reflect his personal life’s quiet nature, as recalled by Paula Jones, a former colleague. Describing him as the highest-ranking person of color at Sears, she remembered his unwavering support for colleagues.
“He was the epitome of what any good man should be,” Jones said.