Ruben Johnson, former extension director, dies at 95
Oct. 1, 2025
By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts:
- Johnson served 38 years with extension
- Major supporter of poultry research
(335 words)
(Newsrooms: Download file photo of Johnson)
LITTLE ROCK — Ruben Johnson, who directed the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service from 1981 until his retirement in 1989, died Sept. 23. He was 95 years old.
Johnson held many positions within extension before being appointed as acting director. He joined extension in 1955 as an associate county agent in Washington County.
Always involved in poultry, Johnson made a lasting impact on generations of 4-H members through the 4-H pullet chain he started, which is now known as the Arkansas Poultry Chain Program, which teaches 4-H members how to raise chickens from chicks. For his work on the project, Johnson was promoted to state poultryman in 1957.
After seven years of working in poultry and poultry education, Johnson was appointed extension district resource development specialist in 1964 and later district agent in 1970. In 1975, he became extension’s state leader for agriculture, a position that gave him administrative responsibility for 35 counties in the state.
Appointed acting director of the Cooperative Extension Service in 1981, Johnson secured a grant for more than $900,000 to study broiler production.
Throughout his career, Johnson established strong ties with extension employees and developed a reputation for genuinely caring for his colleagues. Among many others, Johnson hired Lanny Ashlock, former extension soybean agronomist for the Division of Agriculture, in 1983.
“I considered him my boss, but he was my friend as well,” Ashlock said. “And I think that’s the way most of the specialists who worked under him felt about him. He always took care of his people.”
Johnson was inducted into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2014.
Johnson also had a full career with the Army National Guard. He served one tour during the Korean War in 1950 and remained in the service until 1981, when he retired with the rank of colonel as the deputy commander of the 39th Infantry Brigade.
Johnson is survived by Charlotte, his wife of 75 years, as well as three children, six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas
System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
Ryan McGeeney
rmcgeeney@uada.edu
501-671-2120