| Intro | American philanthropist | ||||
| A.K.A. | Robert Wood III Johnson | ||||
| Was | Businessperson | ||||
| From | United States of America | ||||
| Type | Business | ||||
| Gender | male | ||||
| Birth | 9 September 1920, New Brunswick | ||||
| Death |
22 December 1970 (aged 50 years) |
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| Family |
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Robert Wood “Bobby” Johnson III (September 9, 1920 – December 22, 1970) was an American philanthropist and businessman. He was a grandson of Robert Wood Johnson I (co-founder of Johnson & Johnson).
Biography
Johnson was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. His father was Robert Wood Johnson II, president and chairman of Johnson & Johnson, and his mother was Elizabeth Dixon Ross Johnson. Johnson grew up an only child. Johnson married Betty Wold. They had five children: Robert Wood Johnson IV, Keith Johnson, Billy Johnson, Elizabeth “Libet” Johnson, and Christopher Wold Johnson. In 1975, Keith died of a cocaine overdose, and Billy died in a motorcycle accident.
Johnson worked for Johnson & Johnson from 1941-1965. He was president of J&J from 1961–1965, until his father fired him. He was succeeded as president by Philip B. Hofmann, the first non-Johnson family member to head the company since 1887.
Johnson also served for ten years on the board of directors of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as president and vice president.
In 1970, Johnson died of cancer at the age of 50.