Family pledges $1 million to Kelley School

The Kelley School of Business announced Monday that one of Indiana's most prominent business families pledged $1 million to its Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.\nAccording to a press release, the Johnson family of Columbus, Ind., will give $100,000 each year for a minimum of 10 years and will "further the programs" of the Johnson Center.\nThe center was established at IU in 1989 and renamed in 1998 when the Johnson family donated an initial amount of $1 million to the center. The contribution secured the center's spot in the Kelley School's newest building, finished in 2002. \nDirector of the Johnson Center Elizabeth Gatewood said they are thrilled by the gift, and the family's contribution will establish the "Johnson Family Fund." \n"In general, the contribution will support activities that range from internships to student projects," Gatewood said. "It will fund programs that support MBA students and undergraduates."\nGatewood also mentioned she is unaware if the Johnson family initiated the contribution or if it was asked by the Kelley School for support. However, she said, the Johnson family has been very generous in the past.\nThe business school's Director of Institutional Marketing and Communications, Margaret Garrison, also considers the Johnson family as one of the Kelley School's greatest assets.\n"The Johnsons are wonderful, long-time generous friends," Garrison said.\nGarrison said because a lot of programs have been cut recently, the contribution will open doors for the Johnson Center. \n"It gives us the momentum and ability to move forward with new programs," she said. "This new contribution will make us incredibly competitive among other top 20 business schools in the country."\nRichard Johnson and his son, Richard Jr., have strong ties to IU. They both received undergraduate degrees from IU and Richard Jr. is currently an adjunct professor in the Kelley School of Business. Richard Sr. serves on both the Kelly School's Dean's Advisory Council and the IU Foundation Board of Directors.\nRichard Johnson began his career as an entrepreneur in 1957 when he and his wife Ruth founded the Johnson Oil Company, a small distributor of Shell Oil. The family also owned 150 Bigfoot convenience stores until it sold the chain to Couche-Tard Inc. in 2001. \nJohnson and his son are now partners in Johnson Ventures, an investor in three Indiana companies including Indiana Limestone Co., Inc.