Johnny Swanson III was born March 31, 1953 to the late Johnny Swanson II and Magnolia Jones Swanson in Birmingham, Alabama. He attended public schools in Birmingham where he had high academic performance and began early to take on leadership roles, mostly known for heading the Safety Patrol at McCaw Elementary. Johnny went on to be one of the first Black students to desegregate Ensley High School where he also excelled academically and began his military training in the Army ROTC program. Eventually he rose to the highest rank student cadet in the Entire System and mastered the Best Trained and Best Dressed Drill Team the Area had in the early 1970’s. Johnny graduated from Ensley High School in 1971 earning a full Scholarship to The Citadel Military College in Charleston, South Carolina where he eventually graduated in 1975 as a Political Science Major and became a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. Johnny’s military career took him to several countries in Europe where he operated in the area of Military Police and Security. He served this capacity for years and was very well respected for his strategic ability and experience. Upon leaving the military he entered the private work force for a few years with the Proctor and Gamble Company after which he started his own business The Swanson Group in which he eventually trained and licensed thousands of security officers, many of whom are now in high capacities with Homeland Securing, CIA, and Secret Service. The Swanson Group eventually became one of the largest Security firms in the country overseeing Governmental and military installations through the United States. In the late 1990’s Johnny earned his Juris Doctorate Degree in the study of Law and earned the nickname “”John Law””. He assisted many veterans in this capacity his last years and Campaigned for the U.S. Senate in 2002, 2004, and 2008, receiving more than 30,000 votes from the people of Alabama. Johnny had spiritual roots in the Lilly Grove Baptist Church of Ensley where he was a member and submitted to God under the leadership of the late Pastor Levi Satisfield, Sr. Johnny was preceded in death by family members: Johnny Swanson, II (father); Magnolia Jones Swanson (mother); Edith Swanson (sister); and Mark Swanson (brother). He leaves to cherish his memory a Family that includes two sisters, Gloria Swanson Tims and Essie Elana Swanson; four brothers, Timothy Swanson, Sr. (Linda), David Swanson, Sr., Wilbur Swanson (Gwendolyn) of Temple Hills, Maryland and Dr. Reginald Swanson; an aunt, uncles, many nieces and nephews and related family. Family Hour will be held on Tuesday, March 17 from 6:30 – 7:30 at Roberts Central Park Chapel. Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. at Lilly Grove Baptist Church, 1821 14th St. Ensley with burial in Oakland Cemetery. Roberts Central Park Chapel Directing. Tags: 1975
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