Larry and Diane Johnson are proud Michigan graduates and have invested in the success of the University in a variety of ways. They are sincere, lifelong learners who contribute to the health of their communities and are grateful for the experiences they've had at and through UM. Both Larry and Diane are committed to upholding the tradition and values of Michigan through their selfless generosity and the inspiring example that they continue to set for the next generation of Michigan alums.
Tell us a little bit about yourselves and where you're from.
Diane: I grew up in the Farmington area, where I graduated from North Farmington High School. I was always going to go to Michigan. My father went to Michigan and I was brought up as a fan. Ironically, I never went to football game or anything while I was growing up. I entered the dental hygiene program after I graduated high school in 1971 and I remember that I was so excited going to my first Michigan game--so, that's how I got there.
Larry: I was born in Texas, and grew up in Munster, Indiana which was a small town between Gary and Chicago. I was fortunate enough that one of my assistant high school football coaches, Alex Bochnowski, had played football for Michigan back in the 50's so he made contact with Gary Moeller and started the recruiting process. Ultimately, I was offered a scholarship and came to Michigan and met Diane, fell in love, graduated with an engineering degree, had a successful engineering career at Atlantic Richfield and later in business, eventually married Diane, and four kids and eight grandkids later, here we are.
How did you two meet?
Diane: We lived down the hall from each other in South Quad. Larry got there in '70 and I got there in '71, so I was a year behind him. I realized all of the football players had "training table" at South Quad and I would always use the pop machine in the guys hallway, and eventually met Larry.
Larry: It was in the fall of 1971. I was a kid from a small town, Diane from the big city. I never had a chance!
How would those that are close to you describe you?
Diane: I think family-oriented--I know Larry has that on his list. He's the organized one, I'm not. I think also just very active, involved in things we care about, and we are both driven in our own way based on our priorities.
Larry: We're goal-oriented, and we love to continue to learn about new things. I guess I'm definitely the planner of the family!
What are some of the things that you are most passionate about?
Diane: I've been involved in Event on Main which focuses on Mott Hospital and the Charles Woodson Foundation. We got involved in whatever our kids were doing. When they were swimming, I learned how to run all the computer systems and manage swim meets. I think my involvement gets directed where I need to be.
Larry: I guess the thing that I enjoy the most right now is just experiencing new things with our grandkids and watching them learn and develop new skills. I've been very involved with the Detroit Metropolitan YMCA, and the outdoors whether it's hunting, fishing, or just the conservation of wild places and wild things.
What are some of your earliest or favorite memories of Michigan during your time here as students, as alums, and as parents?
Diane: I really am so glad that I dated Larry while he played! It was fun waiting for him outside the tunnel and seeing all the kids lining up for autographs, and the players had the most gorgeous blue polyester blazers with these little patches on them, so everybody knew who they were. It was an amazing experience for me when I was in school.
As alums, we had football, basketball and hockey season tickets, so we were in Ann Arbor all the time. We would come and say, "These kids look too young to be college students!". Then, being able to introduce our kids to Michigan, and all of the sports was so special. I think the ultimate pride that I felt was to watch my girls get up and wear the Block M and compete for Michigan.
Larry: It started with my first visit to Ann Arbor, which was a recruiting trip in January of 1970. Bo had just had his first heart attack at the Rose Bowl, so it was just a couple of weeks later. The doctors would not let him leave his house, so I went over to his house and met him on my recruiting trip, which was kind of a different experience than probably most recruits had. He convinced me that he was alive and well and going to be coaching, and convinced me to come.
I think the first time out of the tunnel on game day is something that every football player remembers. You go out for pregame and probably 20,000 people in the stands, and it looks pretty empty. Then you go back up into the tunnel as the marching band is ready to go onto the field, and I clearly remember the band members chanting, "Let's Go Blue! Let's Go Blue!". Then you go into the locker room to get last-minute instructions, and you come down the tunnel. Suddenly you're released out onto the field and go hit the banner. I'm sure that my feet hit the ground but I sure don't remember it.
A fact that you very quickly learn as a student-athlete is that the "Leaders and Best" is not just a slogan, but a commitment. Seeing your children wear a Letterwinner Jacket and their Big Ten Championship ring and knowing what that took to accomplish makes me as a parent very proud.
Can you recall what prompted your first gift to Michigan Athletics?
Diane: Our first gift was buying a blue tile for the Block M at the bottom of the diving well. We received something that asked if we wanted to pay a certain amount for a blue tile, and felt like it made sense.
Larry: Part of the reason is that our kids at that point were becoming more interested in swimming. The answer to your question, though, is because you asked us. However, at the time we were a young family with four kids and philanthropy had not become a habit yet.
Why is support for Athletics an important part of your philanthropic practices?
Diane: I think it's just our first-hand knowledge. We probably would've donated to athletics at some point if there was a reason or a benefit to it even if Larry hadn't played, or the girls weren't involved. Knowing first hand what the athletes go through and what is expected of them, it's just amazing to see what they accomplish.
Larry: When I think back on my time in Ann Arbor, there were lessons that you learned in the classroom, and there were lessons that you learned on the field of competition. Those things that I learned in the classroom were very technical and gave me the skills necessary to be an engineer. But, the experience of leadership and self-sacrifice, and just plain hard work and teamwork came from the field. I was taught all about hard work from Bo Schembechler.
What do you wish other people knew about Michigan Athletics, or what might you tell someone who is considering supporting
higan student-athletes?
Larry: What I would tell other people is that to have a chance to be the "Leaders and Best" takes money. World-class facilities are not cheap, world-class coaches are attracted to world-class facilities, as are student-athletes. Michigan Athletics is one of only a few self-sufficient university athletic departments. Financially, they control their own destiny and they do not have to rely on the university for support. It's been that way forever, and it needs to stay that way--but that can only happen with donors who are willing to direct their philanthropic gifts to the athletic department.
Diane: You've got world-class athletes, but you can't forget the fact that they're competing against world-class scholars in the classroom. They've got to be able to be supported to achieve all that, and it's not an easy road.
As you consider your legacy at Michigan, what words might you use to escribe how you'd like it to look?
Diane: That we care. We've been in the shoes of the athletes and the parents of the athletes, and want to be remembered for caring enough to support Michigan Athletics financially to provide opportunities for others.
Larry: I hope that we will inspire others to follow in our footsteps. A few years after I graduated, I attended the "Football Bust", and John Anderson won the Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award for outstanding academics. In his acceptance speech, he told the audience that when he was a freshman, he had watched as I received the same award and that he had committed himself to winning the award when he was a senior. He had no idea I was in the audience, I had no idea that he had set that goal for himself, but it impressed me just how powerful ones actions can be. You never know who's watching.
How can we best support you with this goal and continue to communicate our gratitude for all you've done for this department?
Diane: We love the communication, and it's wonderful to be invited to different things and knowing that you care. It is nice to be remembered and thought of proactively.
Larry: To fulfill the commitment to striving to be the "Leaders and Best". I want to see that commitment continue and never become just the slogan.
