Firefighters throughout Bartholomew County are mourning one of their finest this week.
Roger Johnson, described by former Columbus Fire Chief Mike Compton as a “legend in the volunteer firefighting community,” died Friday at the age of 75 after battling the COVID-19 virus for four months.
“For Columbus firefighters, he has always been our friend and a strong supporter,” Compton said.
In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Johnson held a variety of firefighting positions on the local and state levels that largely focused on public safety and the supporting firefighters.
He was also a former chief of what was formerly called the East Columbus Volunteer Fire Department. Known today as Columbus Township Fire and Rescue, current Chief Dave Thompson said he had a extreme amount of respect for Johnson.
“He was always good about keeping us informed about everything that was going on (in firefighting) from the local level all the way up to the state level,” Thompson said.
He described Johnson as a true mentor who never stopped teaching him new things. Thompson also recalls how Johnson had recommended him for the top administrative position in his department.
“He’s been a huge part of my career and he will be sorely missed,” Thompson said.
Johnson served as the Indiana’s state fire marshal from 2005 to 2008 during the administration of former Gov. Mitch Daniels.
After accepting the position, his first priority was to promote increased training and safety among Indiana’s 27,000 volunteer and career firefighters, including creating the Indiana Fire Academy.
Johnson also served for seven years as president of the 3,500-member Indiana Firefighters Association. It was a position he reluctantly had to give up after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in August 2014.
Although the disease eventually made speaking difficult for Johnson, Harrison Township firefighter and EMT Drake Hendershot said it never had an impact on Johnson’s immense knowledge about firefighting. Hendershot, who said his family has known the former state fire marshal all of his life, remembers traveling with Johnson and his dog, Maggie, to Cleveland several years ago.
“I found out that people from all over the country knew him,” Hendershot said. “Roger was always kind.”
He also recalls that Johnson was also ready to spread his knowledge about firefighting whenever anyone asked him a question.
“He was super passionate about it,” Hendershot said.
When Johnson received the Sagamore of the Wabash award in 2016, then-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence wrote a letter that described Johnson an a great example for Indiana’s next generation of firefighter leaders.
“It is your drive to succeed, your devotion to duty, loyalty to your community, and desire to ensure the safety of all that has built your lifelong firefighting career and legacy,” the former vice president wrote to Johnson. “You truly are a hero.”
When Johnson received the award, then-State Rep. Milo Smith credited Johnson for raising the level of professionalism in firefighting — especially among rural volunteers.
In keeping with Johnson’s wishes, cremation will take place and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.
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The Bartholomew County commissioners have asked the community to lower flags to half staff on Wednesday to honor the memory of Roger Johnson, former state fire marshal.
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