Henry A. Johnson*

The son of Norwegian immigrants, Henry Johnson was born in Chicago. His father made cabinets and his mother was a maid. Johnson was raised in a disciplined home environment and was instilled with a strong work ethic. Even as a young boy, he demonstrated an uncanny ability to organize and lead. "We didn't have any organized sports like they do today," he said. "I was always willing to take on that responsibility."

The Great Depression drove his father's business into bankruptcy. Johnson's father left the family to find work in Texas but never returned. Johnson's mother took in laundry to make ends meet. At 12, Johnson spent every spare moment working to help his family. He cut lawns, delivered newspapers, and helped the school janitor sweep floors. After high school, he went to work for Montgomery Ward, delivering mail for less than $15 a week. He had to walk a mile to catch a bus and then take two streetcars to get to work, but he was never absent or late. Soon, his dedication paid off. He was promoted to delivering mail to the executive offices, where he caught the attention of CEO Sewall Avery, who advised Johnson to go into merchandising and continue his education.

Johnson attended night school at Northwestern University. When World War II started, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and flew 23 missions over Europe. Upon his return at the end of the war, he was promoted to assistant buyer in the furniture department of Montgomery Ward.

When his manager left the store for a position at Aldens, a furniture catalog company, the former manager hired Johnson as his buyer. Johnson spent the next 25 years with Aldens and rose to the rank of vice president. He also earned his MBA from the University of Chicago. Getting an education was important to Johnson. In his book, The Corporate Dream, he said, "Dreams are for everyone, and everyone has the power to make their dreams happen."

After being turned down for the position for president, Johnson left Aldens to head the catalog operation at Avon Fashions. While there, he restructured operations and cut losses.

Two years later, he joined Spiegel as CEO. In eight years, he transformed the nearly bankrupt company to a preeminent catalog of upscale, designer fashions and luxury furnishings. Under his guidance, sales and profits quadrupled. "I saw the emergence of the working, professional woman who would be searching for a better way to shop for quality goods," he said "I wanted our catalog to be the most beautiful in the world."

In 1986, Johnson retired from Spiegel. He worked as a consultant, counseling business leaders on how to capture the corporate dream. Johnson said, "If you believe in a dream and work toward its realization, the mistakes will be forgiven and forgotten; the successes rewarded and remembered."