December 22, 1933ย ย โย ย April 7, 2025
James Jerry Johnson was born December 22, 1933 in Gloversville, New York. After an adventurous if not at times rough childhood (bread and ice trucks missing inventory, orphanage experience, etc.) James (Jim, Jimmy) joined the Marines in 1951 at 18 years old. After three tours in Okinawa (Korean War Veteran), getting married (E. Catharine โKittieโ Langworthy) and the birth of two children, Michael Lewis 1954 and Anne Elizabeth 1959 (baby Steven lost in 1957) James retired from the Marines after 10 years of honorable and distinguished service in 1961.
The 1960โs was an incredibly busy and productive decade for James, graduating from the California State University Fullerton in Public Administration (delaying law school to pursue the quicker path for supporting the family) and then holding several positions in city management in Southern California, eventually landing in Escondido as the Assistant City Manager. Jamesโ success allowed he and his wife Kittie to then adopt brother and sister toddlers Donald Edward and Lacy Jill in 1970. And then James & Kittie had their 5th child, Matthew Christopher in November 1970.
