Dick Johnson is gone.

I first met Dick in 1992 at Cado Mills, when I was commuting from Berkeley
to the SSC every other week. This icon of soaring made me feel at home.
What a nice guy and a gentleman besides. This is a tremendous loss to
soaring. My condolences to Alice and the rest of his family.

I am so sorry,

Mike Green


At 19:39 23 July 2008, Burt Compton - Marfa wrote:
July 23, 2008

I just received a telephone call from a reliable source that Dick
Johnson has crashed at the combined World Class / 1-26 Nationals at
Midlothian, Texas (south of Dallas). He was flying as sniffer.

Apparently he dove-in after release from tow. My source reports that
Dick has perished in the crash.

I am stunned. Nothing to speculate about now -- he is just gone.
So God Bless Alice his wife, and his family. Alice lost their son
Nels many years ago in a hang-glider accident.

Mr. Johnson was a mentor to us all, world-wide soaring legend, and a
dear friend of my family.

Burt Compton
Marfa, Texas
USA