The UT Board of Trustees honored President Emeritus Joseph E. Johnson with the Trustees’ Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by the board.
Johnson has dedicated his life’s work to UT for more than fifty years. He served as UT’s nineteenth president from 1990 to 1999 and is credited with forming the structure of the UT System and dramatically increasing the university’s fundraising support.
He has continued to devote himself to UT more than fourteen years after his official retirement.
Johnson attended Thursday’s meeting and expressed his appreciation for the honor. He noted that he is now eighty-one and first began his relationship with UT in Ayres Hall in June 1956.
He praised the trustees for their leadership and their role in ongoing progress.
“You are the governance of a truly fantastic institution and there is in place a wonderful group of leaders that are making real progress,” said Johnson.
The president emeritus also gave thanks for the tribute video shown to attendees before he received the award.
I am delighted to receive the honor and I am very grateful,” he said. “I am glad you have that on tape—that is the nicest thing my wife has ever said about me,” he said jokingly.