Willis Johnson (1914 - 1968)

Born 16 Feb 1914 in Vidalia, Concordia Parish, Louisiana, United States

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Biography

Willis Johnson is a part of US Black heritage.

Willis Johnson was born on 16 Feb 1914 in Vidalia, Concordia Parish, Louisiana.^[1][2][3] In 1920, he lived with his family, including parents Willis and Joanna Johnson, in Vidalia.^[4]

Willis was a heavyweight boxing alternate in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany.^[5][1] In the 1930's and 1940's he lived in Detroit, Michigan and worked at a Chrysler automobile factory.^[1][2][6]

Willis died in Sep 1968.^[3]

Research Notes

• Boxer Willis Johnson who was an alternate in the 1936 Olympics has been connected to his family in the 1920 census as follows:
  • The passenger list for the 1936 Olympic team travelling from Germany back to the US lists his birth as 16 Feb 1914 in Vidalia, Louisiana and says he was a resident of Detroit, Michigan at the time.^[1]
  • That passenger list info matches a World War II draft registration card which lists his sister, "Mrs. Lulabell Thurman" of Lagrange, Cook County, Illinois as the person who would always know his address.^[2]
  • His sister Lulabelle's death records identify her parents as Willis Johnson and Johanna(h) Williams.^[7][8] This info was used to identify their family in the 1920 census in Vidalia, Louisiana.^[4]
• The following 1950 census record has been identified that probably belongs to Willis, but there is not enough information to be sure, especially with a common name like Will--- Johnson in a large city like Detroit. However, the name, birthdate/place, residence city and place of employment at an auto factory all match his other records from the 1940's, so it seems likely that it is him. If so, he married and had several children in the 1940's.
  • "United States Census, 1950," ED 85-1072A, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA; sheet 6, dwelling 38, Willis J Johnson household; FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FS2-MLNK.
• Unable to identify a more complete death record than the Social Security Death Index or a 1930 census record for Willis, searching Ancestry and FamilySearch on 26 Apr 2024.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Passenger List, U.S.S. President Roosevelt, departing Hamburg on 19 Aug 1936, arrived New York 28 Aug 1936, List of United States Citizens, page 4, line 27, Willis Johnson, born 16 Feb 1914 in Vidalia, LA, residence Detroit, Mich; "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24KQ-MHV : accessed 18 Oct 2023), citing NARA microfilm publication T715.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Military: "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947," database, (Ancestry Record 2238 #267760811 : accessed 18 October 2023) Willis Johnson, born 16 Feb 1914 in Vidalia, Louisiana, registered 16 Oct 1940, Local Board 3, Detroit, Michigan; citing National Archives at St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, WWII Draft Registration Cards For Michigan, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947, Record Group Records of the Selective Service System, 147, Box 587.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KQC-DL5N : accessed 18 Oct 2023), Willis Johnson, born 16 Feb 1914, died Sep 1968.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} "United States Census, 1920," ED 18, Vidalia town, Police Jury Ward 5, Concordia Parish, Louisiana, USA; sheet 16B, family 54, Willis Johnson (age 9) in Willis Johnson (age 43[?]) household; FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVQF-TYY.
5. ↑ "U.S. Colored Stars Are Well Represented On American Team," The Detroit Tribune [Michigan], 25 Jul 1936, page 6; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-detroit-tribune/133686235/ : accessed 18 Oct 2023).
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," ED 84-133, Detroit City ward 3, Wayne County, Michigan, USA; sheet 6B, family 98, Willie Johnson in Otto McMorris household; FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KHML-1WH.
   Note: the address on this census matches the address on his World War II draft registration.
7. ↑ Social Security record for sister Lulabelle, naming parents:
   "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K3Y-N5L3 : accessed 26 Apr 2024), Lulabelle Johnson Lopez Thurman, died 21 Dec 1997.
8. ↑ Death Index for sister Lulabelle, naming parents:
   "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6Z32-DRBN : accessed 26 Apr 2024), Lulu Belle Therman, 21 Dec 1997.

See also:

• African American Athletes - 1936 Summer Olympics