Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Saturday, September 23, 2006 at 06:59:54 :
Independent Journal
Tuesday, September 7, 1954
Johnston, Ex-Warden, Dies At 79
James A. Johnson, who lived in Marin for many years while serving as warden of San Quentin and Alcatraz prisons, died last night in a San Francisco hospital.
Johnston, who would have been 80 in two weeks, made his home on Redwood drive in Ross for a long period of time during his life of public service. He was associated in state affairs with Gov. Hiram Johnson, and was named as warden to Folsom, San Quentin and Alcatraz prisons.
Until the last few months, he was also active as a member of the Federal Parole Board.
A native of Brooklyn, Johnston came to California as an orphan at the age of 11. He lived with an older brother in San Francisco and followed closely the career of Gov. Johnson.
While Johnston was in Sacramento, he was asked to organize the California Board of controls and served as its first president. In 1910 he became warden of Folsom prison and served in that capacity for three years.
At the end of that service, Johnston moved to San Quentin as warden where he remained until 1925, a period of 12 years. He lived in Marin while acting as warden of San Quentin.
Johnston then spent eight years as vice president of the American Trust Co. in San Francisco.
As the U.S. Government converted Alcatraz from an Army detention barracks into a federal prison, Johnston was named warden and remained in that capacity until 1948. He subsequently became a member of the Federal Parole Board on the request of the U.S. Attorney General.
A virus infection, developed last Christmas, forced his retirement about one month ago and resulted in his death.
He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Ida Johnston of San Francisco; two daughters, Mrs. Muriel Chapman of Ross, and Mrs. Barbara Ford of Caracas, Venezuela, and 12 grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
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