7/27/2020 12:08:00 PM Friends drive past to wish Johnson a happy 99th!
Joyce Johnson, seated at right, watches his many friends drive past his Racine home to wish him a happy 99th birthday on Sunday afternoon, July 19. Standing behind Johnson are his daughter, Vicki Hoover, left, and his son, Terry Johnson.
Like George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life, Joyce Johnson was the richest man in town on Sunday afternoon, July 19. On a beautiful summer day, Johnson sat on the porch of his Racine home and waved to his many friends who drove slowly past in 77 vehicles, including 22 tractors, to wish Johnson a happy 99th birthday. It was a day so marvelous that even the numbers aligned perfectly: 77 and 22 make 99. Vicki Hoover, an administrative assistant at Bonner Elementary School and Johnson's daughter, kept her dad company as his many friends passed by. Terry Johnson, Joyce's son, also watched from the porch. "It was simply amazing to see how many people came to show their love for Dad and share in the fun," Hoover said in an e-mail. People drove from as far away as north central Minnesota for a short pass through the driveway to wish Johnson well... For more on this story pick up your copy of the July 28 Stewartville STAR.
