Dale Creston Johnson, longtime Owasso educator and community leader died November 12, 2016, at Autumnwood Memory Facility, in Claremore, Oklahoma. Dale was born to parents Clyde and Elva (Chaudoin) Johnson on November 26, 1931. Dale grew up in the hills north of Tahlequah at Moodys, Oklahoma, and spent his childhood running through those hills and fishing in the beautiful Illinois River. He never lost his love for that part of home. He graduated Tahlequah High School and went on to attend Northeastern State University where he received his Bachelors and Masters degrees. He then attended Tulsa University for advance studies for his Superintendent’s Certificate also becoming a member of Phi Delta. Dale was a veteran of the armed forces having served his country honorably with the United States Army. He was stationed in Alaska during the Korean Conflict. Dale was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jim Johnson, sister Hilda Chaudoin, and granddaughter Cene’ Bowman.
Dale married Sandra Vaughn in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, in 1964. They met while both were teaching at Jefferson Elementary School in Sapulpa. Both of their children, Kresta Bowman, of Owasso, and Kerry Johnson of Denver are Owasso graduates as well as their son-in-law, Tim Bowman. Their grandchildren, Pyper-Daley Bowman and Stryder Bowman attend Owasso High School and have grown up following in the Ram traditions, of which Dale was so proud.
Dale and his family moved from Sapulpa to Owasso, Oklahoma in 1969. Little did he know that Owasso would become his dream job. He quickly fell in love with the community and worked endlessly to promote the town and the school system. Wherever he went from Washington D.C. to Oklahoma City, he told the accolades of the public schools and the Owasso community. He was a man of vision and he passionately desired to see the community and the Owasso Public Schools grow and prosper. Dale was a people person and thoroughly enjoyed speaking and welcoming people into his realm of friendship. It was an appreciated fact that Dale had an “open door policy” for anyone who needed to talk to him.
Dale not only was an integral part of the economic development in Owasso, he also led the school system through massive changes during his leadership.
Dale came to the school system in 1969 as High School Principal and then in 1975, he became the Superintendent of schools for an accumulated 35 years before retiring in 2004. When Dale began his superintendency, the 2A district had around 900 students or less and only three school facilities. At the end of his tenure, there were more than 7,500 students. It had become a 6A school with 12 buildings: seven elementaries, centers for sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, a mid-high and high school. Also a state-of-the-art auditorium, sport facilities fit for a 6A program, administrative offices were expanded, and a transportation and plant operations building to take care of the district’s needs for in to the future. The district could also boast of outstanding academics, outstanding band and choral programs, FFA, and several other top programs.
Among Dale’s professional organizations were the Tulsa County Administrators, Rogers County Administrators, The Oklahoma Association of School Administrators, the American Association of School Administrators, the Oklahoma Rural Organizations of Schools, the Oklahoma State Board School Board Association, the National School Board Association, and the Cooperative Council of School Administrators. He was listed in the Who’s Who among American Superintendents, and honored as Administrator of the Year. Even with all that he was active in, he found time to teach finance classes to students studying for their Superintendent’s Certificate at the University Center of Tulsa which later became OSU Tulsa.
In 2007 he was honored by the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators with the Lifetime Achievement Award. This is only given to one former superintendent yearly and it’s recognition of a career long ethical and professional leadership and contribution to education and community.
An important accomplishment for him was the naming of the Dale C. Johnson Education Service Center.
One of his last awards which pleased him greatly was becoming a member of the Owasso Athletic Hall of Fame. This was presented because of his dedication in the bringing athletic facilities to 6A prominence.
Through the years Dale belonged to the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce and the Owasso Chamber of Commerce and served as the Owasso Chamber President. He was a charter member of the Owasso Rotary Club and also served as President, always prepared with a speech in his pocket just in case they needed a speaker that day, and of course the topic would always be the public schools. Dale served on various boards and committees for the chamber and as an Owasso Ambassador. He was privileged to be named the first member to the Owasso Chamber Hall of Fame and was very honored to receive the Owasso Chamber Community Appreciation Award. He served on the Water Resources Board, the Oklahoma Development Authority, and the Owasso Economic Development Authority. He was a longtime member of the Rogers County Water Board. He also served as a member of the Owasso Baptist Home for Children. He came to be known as the “Parade Director” since he co-directed the parades in Owasso for nearly 20 years. He and Sandra promoted this community as Mr. and Mrs. Trail Days in 1997. He was a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Owasso for 47 years. He enjoyed country music and Southern gospel music. He particularly enjoyed listening to the Sunday Morning Radio Gospel Show before he and Sandra would leave for church. As his Alzheimer’s increased he asked every day, “Is tomorrow church day?”.
Dale was always a teacher at heart, always wanting to teach others to fish, ski, to play golf and to garden. He enjoyed mentoring young Superintendents who were just starting out.
Husband, father, grandfather, educator, and friend describe the roles Dale felt were important. He was a communicator and he took his God given purposes in life very serious. Dale’s achievements were many but his greatest joy was to be surrounded by his family while entertaining his grandchildren with stories and songs of his childhood. They returned the favor, when he was so seriously ill at the hospital, as they gathered around the bed singing all of those “crazy” songs he taught them, like Johnson Had an Old Gray Mule, The Wabash Cannonball, and Sally Gooden, to name a few. While Dale was in the hospital, it was amazing how many Owasso graduates were among those who cared for him. They would ask, “Is he the Dale Johnson of Owasso Schools?”.
Dale is truly a man who been blessed with many friends, many awards and achievements throughout his life. His positive outlook on life and his humor, gave so much joy to others, as it continued even after his fight with Alzheimer’s began to take his mind. He always saw the positive side of life and loved to share stories with his family, his many, many friends, and his caregivers. A quote by Henry Brooks Adams says, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” Dale will be missed by a multitude of family, friends and all those whose life he touched.
VISITATION
Mowery Funeral Service
9110 N. Garnett Road
Owasso, OK 74055
Phone: 918-272-6244
Wednesday – November 16, 2016
1:00 PM – 8:00 PM
FUNERAL
Bethel Baptist Church
10705 East 86th St. North
Owasso, OK 74055
Phone: 918-272-6244
Thursday – November 17, 2016
2:30 PM
BURIAL
Graceland Memorial Park Cemetery
Highway 20, East of Highway 169
Owasso, OK 74055
Thursday – November 17, 2016
MEMORIAL FUND
In memory of Dale C. Johnson, please make contributions to the OEF
Owasso Education Foundation
1501 North Ash Street
Owasso, OK 74055
