Robert Dale Johnson was born on a sultry Chicago day on Thursday, August 6th in the year 1934 at Swedish Covenant Hospital, where his grandfather, Gunnar Dahlquist, was an administrator. In the headlines that day, Adolf Hitler attended the funeral of President Von Hindenburg and gave his assurance that, "if it rests with Germany, war will not come again." Also on that day, a tractor party set out on a 134-mile trip across snow and ice to rescue Admiral Richard Byrd, who was stranded at his observation post in Antarctica. The country was slowly emerging from the Great Depression as the engines of industry began to turn once again, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt was in the second term of what some would call the nation's first imperial presidency.

Dorothy and Arvid Johnson brought their baby home to a comfortable three-story brick home that had been constructed by Arvid's father, Oskar. Oskar was a skilled craftsman and builder who was often remembered for his incredible physical strength, working construction in a day when power tools didn't exist, and hand saws, drills, and lathes were all operated with the power of human muscle. Oskar had once worked as a steam shovel operator in what was the largest and most dangerous construction project ever attempted, the Panama Canal. 25,000 people lost their lives either to yellow fever and malaria, or were buried under tons of mud and clay in the Culebra Cut. Yet, somehow the scrappy Swedish immigrant survived the ordeal and made his way to Illinois where he raised a large family.

Waiting at home for the new baby were eldest brother Vernon, Sister Marilyn, and Aunt Ruth, Dorothy's younger sister. Ruthie was a schoolteacher who would take a special interest in young Robert's development, and take him on trips into town, encouraging his intellectual and academic growth, but was perhaps most influential in encouraging his precocious wit.

Music was a constant companion of young Robert. His mother Dorothy was a gifted piano teacher who had studied at the conservatory, and performed Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto upon her graduation. Dorothy dutifully instructed her youngest son in music theory and performance, and Robert grudgingly learned the rudiments of piano, but his passion was for the trumpet. This was the Jazz Age after all, and the trumpet was the most identifiable voice of that age. With his unusual gift of perfect pitch, which occurs in only about 1 in 10,000 people, he excelled at the instrument and played in high school band and occasionally at the Edgebrook Covenant Church, where his family were members. One of his most memorable performances was playing his trumpet inside of the pipe cabinet of the organ with his cousin Don Dahlquist while the famed painter, Warner Sallman painted a rendition of his "Head of Christ" over the pulpit, where it stands to this day.

Robert was a committed student throughout his education and with the careful guidance of Aunt Ruth, was a regular spelling bee champion in grammar school. Yet, that didn't stop him from attending occasional Cubs games at nearby Wrigley Field during school hours. He was also recognized as a National Merit Scholar and was advanced two grade levels, which made him much younger than his fellow classmates. He would later confess some regret at this academic advancement, as his athletic ambitions became more intense and he was paired against more seasoned competitors. Nevertheless, he succeeded in winning numerous varsity sprinting events by the age of 16, and was a first-string running back later in college.

Robert also enjoyed playing golf and would frequently caddy to earn enough money to shoot a round, which could cost as much as 35 cents. It was while indulging his love of the game that he got one of his first jobs in downtown Chicago. As an eager and enthusiastic caddy he made an immediate impression on an unfamiliar but friendly golfer who invited him to work as a doorman at the Palmer House restaurant, not far from the John Hancock building. It was here that he first experienced the wonders of fine Italian cooking, which was a far cry from the Lutefisk and pickled beets to which his Swedish palette was accustomed. He also had the opportunity to meet a strange assortment of characters like Charles "Cherry Nose" Gioe, Anthony "Joe Batters" Accardo, Lawrence "Dago" Mangano, and Louis "Cockeyed" Fratto, who held court at the restaurant, entertaining such guests as the mayor of Chicago and the president of United States Steel, which at the time was the biggest company in the world. After Cherry Nose Gioe was gunned down in front of Ciro's restaurant that August Robert wisely sought employment elsewhere.

After finishing high school, Robert attended Roosevelt College for a semester, but later transferred to Elmhurst College, which he describes as one of the best experiences of his life. The College's reputation as the home of Reinhold Niebuhr, who was the principle architect of American post-war foreign policy, and his close association with the faculty and students there made a profound impression on him. Robert said that it was not uncommon for instructors at Elmhurst to invite the entire class home and have academic discussions around the dinner table.

He graduated from Elmhurst with a degree in Chemistry and subsequently took a position at Victor Chemical Works in the Chicago Heights area. After only a year at the company, Robert became restless and wanted to explore. He gave his two weeks' notice and set out for California with his childhood buddy, Daniel Baumann. He quickly found work as a salesman for Parke Davis Pharmaceuticals, which was riding the crest of its success after inventing the antihistamine Benadryl. Robert had heard of Parke Davis when he spent a summer working as an orderly at Swedish Covenant Hospital, so he thought it might be a good opportunity. And indeed it was. The San Fernando Valley was growing rapidly at the time, and during his first year of sales, three new pharmacies opened in quick





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