26
THE DAVEY BULLETIN
|
January/February 2023
WOODWORKING, TRAVELING AND FAMILY IMPORTANT
TO ORIGINAL EMPLOYEE OWNER
Ed Johnson always wanted to be in the tree business.
"When I was in school, I worked at a nursery. The nursery
had a contract with Long Island Lighting Company, and I
observed a co-worker working in a tree. I thought, I think
I'd like to do that," Johnson said.
At age 17, Johnson joined the U.S. Navy and performed
maintenance work on Lighter Than Air (LTA) blimps during
the Korean War. "Working on blimps got me started on
working up in the air, and out of a chair," Johnson said.
Johnson joined Davey as part of the Parr and Hanson Tree Co.
acquisition in the 1970s as a district manager in Long Island.
He was one of the original employee owners who made a
fi nancial commitment to make the purchase of the company
from the Davey family possible in 1979, and was part of the
1984 corporate complex groundbreaking event. Johnson
Retirees! Have stories to share about retirement or your life at Davey? To be featured,
or to nominate a fellow retiree, call 800-447-1667 ext. 8615 or email bulletin@davey.com.
ADVICE FROM ED JOHNSON:
1. Buy stock!
2. Working with all different kinds of
people is eye-opening, and Davey
provides the opportunity to do just that.
3. Work hard and do a little extra. You will
reap the benefi ts.
retired in 1995 as vice president of safety and equipment.
"The management at Davey has always been exceptional.
Davey promotes from within, giving people in the fi eld
confi dence in the company's commitment to its employee-
ownership status," Johnson said.
Born in Evanston, Illinois, Johnson moved to Long Island,
New York at a young age. He has also lived in Ohio,
Delaware, and now lives in Beverly Hills, Florida, to be
closer to family.
These days, Johnson enjoys woodworking, golfi ng, and
bowling. He and wife Dolores enjoy cruises, and have
traveled to Italy, the Caribbean, Sweden, Denmark, Russia,
and Iceland. They have three children, nine grandchildren,
and 15 great-grandchildren. "I've made cedar chests for
each of my children," Johnson said.
RETIREE CORNER
Ed Johnson in front of the moss wall while attending the opening of
the new third wing retiree event in November. He holds a picture of
the July 1984 groundbreaking event for the corporate complex.
In the 1984 photo (from the left) are Johnson, then vice president
for fi eld services; David Adante, assistant treasurer; Jack Joy,
chairman, president and CEO; James Pohl, executive vice president;
and Robert Browne, director of purchasing and properties.
Ed and Dolores Johnson in Cedar Key, Florida.
