Jerry Johnston
In 1983, when the small town of Braman received their first grant to build a sewer lagoon; they needed someone with time, energy, and patience to administer the program. These qualities became even more critical when the general contractor absconded with the first $90,000 project payment. Chosen as project manager was Jerry Johnston. Very shortly, he also became Mayor.
In 1981 the family sold the "Ed Johnston Grain Company" founded by Jerry's father. This 47-year-old former company president and CEO then set out on a career of public service involving not only his community and municipal government but also his church, his alma mater, communication services, medical services, education, and a myriad of other issues and causes. This great volunteer service was one of many reasons he was selected in 1989 as a Distinguished Alumnus at Oklahoma State University.
Jerry Johnston says his nearly 20 years as mayor of Braman is the result of "a genetic deficiency". He uses this phrase to explain how he followed the path of his father who served as mayor of this Kay County community for more than 40 years. And his service has extended far beyond the bounds of his hometown. When President of the Oklahoma Municipal League from 1994-96, he often observed that it seemed incongruent to be the leader of an organization of 439 cities and towns when his own community only had a population of 267!
Jerry Johnston's contributions to the enhancement of municipal government included not only his two terms as OML President but also service on a legislative Joint Task Force on Rural Water, chairmanship of the Statewide E911 Committee and the OML Telecommunications Committee. In addition, he has served for more than 7 years on the Board of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, including as Chairman since 2001. Nationally he has represented the local government as a member of the Small Community Advisory Sub-Committee to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Even during this time of his state and national service, much progress continued to be achieved in Braman regarding public facilities, utilities, streets, and equipment. By the way, that 1981 lagoon project was promptly completed since Jerry knew that the survival of his town depended upon such a facility.
Jerry's motto for Braman "It's a matter of pride" has evoked a commitment of involvement by the local citizens as well as a spirit of "community" among all of the organizations with which he is involved. Former Tulsa Mayor and now U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe captured the essence of Mayor Jerry Johnston when he described him as "the salt of the Earth in the true Biblical meaning and the hope of America."