Honorable Robert A. Johnson Highway
Submitted By Lucy
Edwards
When Representative Robert A. Johnson retired from the NH House, having been
named Dean in 2007 for having served longer than any sitting representative,
Maureen Mann was chosen in a special election to fill his seat. She was
reelected in 2008 in the November election. In 2009 she sponsored
legislation to honor Representative Johnson. for his long service to the
state and his community.
Representative Johnson was the true public servant. He was a kind
gentleman who cared for his community in so many ways. He served in the US
Army. He was a trustee of Coe-Brown Northwood Academy for over 35 years and
was Chair of the Trustees for 14 years. He was first elected Northwood Town
Moderator at the age of 22 and served in that position for 60 consecutive
years; no one has held that position longer. He also served as School
Moderator for close to 40 years.
Maureen chose to honor Representative Johnson by having Rt. 43 in
Northwood, the main road from the east end of town to the towns to the
southwest of us and our route to Manchester, named after him. Rt. 43 passes
through three of the towns he represented when the Rockingham One district
was created. One of the first pieces of legislation Representative Johnson
introduced concerned Rt. 43. The legislature passed the bill honoring him
unanimously in 2010. Governor Lynch signed the legislation, and the next
step was to find funding, since the state does not fund these signs.
Maureen was approached by the Northwood Chief of Police, Glen Drolet,
who told her that the Northwood Police Association would come up with the
money for the signs. On September 1, 2010, the signs were installed, one
near the library and the other at the Deerfield line. Since I live off Rt.
43, I will enjoy seeing the sign near the library on my daily commute. I
remember those town meetings when Bob Johnson was moderator - it’s not an
easy task, as all of us who participate in this venerable form of democracy
know!
