Harlan Johnson Memorial Scholarship
Established in 2022, Robin Johnson set up a labor education scholarship fund in memory of his father, Harlan. The scholarship covers full tuition for the Labor Leadership Academy or Labor Law series through the Labor Education Program at the School of Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. One scholarship will be awarded each year.
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About Harlan Johnson
Harlan was born and raised in Monmouth, IL. He served with the United States Navy on the Destroyer U.S.S. Mullany during World War II, participating in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He later served with the United States Army, 7th Cavalry Regiment, during the Korean War, where he earned five Battle Stars and a Combat Infantry Badge and obtained the rank of sergeant. He was a lifetime member of the Monmouth VFW Post 2301 and the Monmouth American Legion Post 136.
Harlan served as the general chairman with the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks (now the Transportation Communication International Union) in Chicago in the 1960s. His family later moved back to Monmouth and he worked at Wilson Foods, where he became a member of the Amalgamated Meatcutters and Butcher Workmen Local Union, which later became the United Food and Commercial Workers Union through merger. Harlan served as President of Local 1218 for 15+ years and was a member of the international bargaining commit-tee. He was also active in several organizing drives. His Local later merged with Local 1540 of the UFCW. He retired in 1990.
Harlan was active in the local Democratic Party, enjoyed playing golf and gardening. He was an avid fan of the Chicago Bears, Cubs and Blackhawks. Harlan loved to listen to jazz and among his favorites were Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong.
He and his wife, Delores, had three children, Frank (Michele), Robin and Dawn and one grandson, Paul.
About Robin Johnson
Robin is the host of Heartland Politics, a political podcast discussing current issues we face as a country featuring interviews with senators, congressmen, governors, and other political elite. Robin A. Johnson is a governmental relations, public policy and political consultant. He is an expert on government reform is-sues and has consulted with numerous local governments on consolidation/merger, public-private partnerships and full-cost accounting of public services. Robin has also helped candidates win elections for the U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, state legislature, judiciary and local government.
He is also a part-time faculty member at Monmouth College and works as a political, governmental relations and public policy consultant. He chose to work in government and politics because he still believes in the power of government to make a positive impact on people’s lives.
Harlan Johnson Scholarship
2023 Scholarship Winner – Wendy Renteria
Past Awardees
Read more about our past scholarship awardees here.
2022 – Nick Lopez