Richard Johnson

Richard Howell Johnson was born to Carl W. and Isla Johnson with his fraternal twin brother Donald on January 30, 1940 in Madison WI. Donald went home with his parents, but Richard was sickly and underweight. He had to stay in the hospital for a while. His older sister Elizabeth was often left to care for him. Richard was one of 6 children born to Carl and Isla Johnson. 2 sisters, and 3 brothers. Their father Carl abandoned the family. Isla would then marry their stepfather Merritt Eller. Their stepfather Merritt had trouble holding a job, and it was the depression. Richard remembers at one time living in an abandoned rail road car in Texas. Richard often helped his stepfather deliver cola, and other jobs as a child. At 16 Richard had to stop going to highschool to support his mother and stepfather, who was now disabled. He went to work for his brother in law Joe Troia, who Elizabeth had married, at the Troia Steak House in Madison WI. He learned the profession of chef so well that he would eventually be