Harvey Johnson is a man of many virtues, the least of
which is perseverance. It is because of the perseverance of Johnson
and his fellow Marshall High graduates that a scholarship program for
students with disabilities has been recently endowed at the University
of Minnesota-after almost 20 years of hard work. The Marshall Access
and Education Fund is expected to award its first scholarships to U
of M students this fall.
Johnson was in the fifth
grade at Minneapolis’ Tuttle
Elementary School when he suffered his first seizure. He remembers
that he was playing ball with his friend Bill Anderson when the seizure
struck.
As a result of his disability, Johnson was not able to participate
in athletics or extra curricular activities when he attended Marshall
High. Nevertheless the 1939 Marshall graduate has many fond memories
of his years at the Dinky-town school. In its day, Marshall High was
a school that serviced a large percentage of metro students with disabilities.
The school has since been closed and the building is now an office
building.
In 1959, Johnson chaired
the Class of 1939’s
reunion committee and he has chaired the committee every five years
since. In 1989, Johnson and his classmates celebrated their 50th
anniversary.
The event was a big success. More than 100 people turned out. When
the dust settled the reunion committee met and discovered that they
had nearly $300 left over. They discussed what to do with the money.
Johnson suggested that they start a scholarship fund for students with
disabilities. The committee agreed and the Marshall Alumni Endowment
Fund (MAEF) was born.
Led by Johnson, the alumni solicited funds through the mail and by
word of mouth. Over the next 10 years, the fund grew to nearly $9,000.
Ruth Stone Stewart, a member of the 1989 reunion committee, was instrumental
in bringing together MAEF and the U of M Office of Disability Service
in January 2003. Johnson, Stone Stewart and the committee turned over
the MAEF money to the U. MAEF was renamed the Marshall Access and Education
Fund.
Since 2003 the fund has grown more rapidly. In May 2007, the fund
reached $22,000, just $3,000 shy of the $25,000 mark at which it will
become an endowed scholarship fund. At that point scholarships may
be awarded from the interest generated by investing the money in the
fund.
Great news arrived in
June 2007 when MAEF reached $25,000. In addition, the U of M Foundation
matches MAEF’s $25,000, bringing the fund’s
total to $50,000.
At age 88, Johnson is an extraordinary person, with a keen mind and
sharp wit. He is very happy to see the efforts of the Marshall alumni
come to fruition. His concern for students with disabilities and his
perseverance will provide benefits for many years to come. ![]()
