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IN MEMORIAM
JERRY JOHNSON
JUNE 16,1950 -JUNE 9,1994
Last June , 1994, the University Scuba
Club lost one of its valuable members that
has been associated with the club since its
early days. Jerry ( Jerold Robert Johnson)
died suddenly while attending a career meet
ing. Even though a physician was present
and did all the things a well trained diver
would do to save his buddy, his life was gone as quickly as a divers bubbles float to the surface.
I first met Jerry in September, 1968
when he joined University Underwater Society. The club had just recently changed its name from University of Texas
Underwater Society because of a regulation not allowing UT to be in a clubs name. -Jerry made- many dives with
the club over his diving career. He especially loved the San Marcos River and night dives at Lake Travis. All the
Local Dives that the club goes on, Jerry has been to many times. He went on several Lake Amistad dive trips, numerous
Gulf trips, and many Cozumel club trips.
In the 1960's when Jerry learned to
dive, scuba equipment and diving instruction
were just starting to get organized. Jerry
made some of his own Diving equipment. I
remember a submersible pressure gauge and an underwater dive light that he constructed.
Jerry would consider diving an adventure. Once on a club oil rig trip, the boat broke down in rough weather and
Jerry and other club members were rescued by the Coast Guard helicopter. Before the days of paved roads at windy
point, one could get their car stuck in the mud if caught out in the rain on the point. After a club dive there
and just before a big thunderstorm, one of the members locked their keys in their car
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trunk. I could see the gears turning in Jerry's
mind for a solution. Under the car hood he
went and in a jiffy he had hot wired the car
and the member was off to safety.
Jerry introduced
me to amateur radio
in the late 60's. His call was WA5RON. On
various camping trips I would talk back to
Jerry using Morse code. A big thrill was when I was diving the Blue Hole
in Belize and talked to Jerry while I was
aboard ship and Jerry was driving down a
Texas highway in his car.
We shared the sport of caving. I have
had many pleasant caving trips with Jerry in
Texas and Mexico. He was very knowledge
able about the archaeology of Mexico and
South America. He graduated from U.T. in
December 1972 with a degree in anthropol
ogy and continued post-graduate work in ar
chaeology. He was an electronics whiz. He
worked as a computer programmer and designed radar test equipment. His last job
involved taking theoretical ideas of scientists and making them work.
Jerry was Treasurer of the club from
June, 1972 to September, 1976. He was
Safety Officer from September, 1976 to
September, 1977. Jerry Johnson was a
member of the club from September, 1968
to September, 1988.
The University Scuba Club has lost a
dear member, and I have lost a true friend.
University Underwater Society
The officers wish to express their sin
cerest condolences to all who knew
Jerry. We also thank Paul for his con
tinuing support of the club, including
his presentation at the February meet
ing. It is members like Jerry and Paul
who make this organization something to
be proud of.
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