Born in Chicago to Betty and Dwight Johns, Jr in 1946, “Dickie” moved around for the first eight years of his life due to his father’s service in the US Marine Corps.  They lived in Japan for a year when Major Johns served as the Provost Marshall.  He has an older brother, David, who is retired from the US Forest Service in Quincy, California.  The family settled in Oakland, California, where Dick was active in all sports, church and the Boy Scouts of America, earning his Eagle Scout rank as well as the Pro Deo et Patria (For God and Country) Award.  Dick met his future wife, Barbara Lauck, during 11^th grade history class; and before too long, they were a steady couple. He lettered in football and track while Barbara performed as a cheerleader in her junior year and then as a song-girl in her senior year (sort of sounds like the Beach Boys hit “Be True to Your School,” doesn’t it?…gag!).  Dick’s first exposure to the game of golf came during the summer of 1957 which he spent in West Chicago, Illinois, with his Grandma and Grandpa Adams. His grandfather was an accomplished amateur who had three brothers who were PGA Professionals. A retired railroad conductor after 55 years, Grandpa Adams taught Dickie about golf etiquette, how to caddy, how to play quickly, and how to treat people of all ages. In addition to golf, the two of them enjoyed watching the baseball stars of both leagues at numerous Cubs and White Sox games throughout the summer.

Dick attended California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California, where he was elected to serve as the President of the Inter Fraternity Council and later of his fraternity (Delta Chi). He also was elected to be the Chair of the “Week of Welcome Camp” program welcoming and orienting new freshmen prior to the beginning of classes.  During school he completed the two-year ROTC program and graduated in March of 1969 as a Distinguished Military Graduate receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Electronic Engineering and a Regular Army Commission. Dick’s 73 year-old grandfather, BG Dwight F. Johns, Sr, USA (Ret.) proudly administered the Commissioning Oath to then 2^nd LT Johns, US Army Corps of Engineers. Dick and Barbara were married ten days later. After two months, Dick was on active duty and off to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, for the Engineer Officer Basic Course and then to Fort Benning, Georgia, for Airborne and Ranger School. 

Dick retired the first time in 1995 after serving 26 short years in the Army.  His final assignment was on Capitol Hill at the Corps of Engineers Headquarters where he served as Chief of Staff for the worldwide 40,000-person organization.  Prior to that assignment Dick was the District Engineer in Norfolk, Virginia from 1990 to 1992. He had overseas assignments in Germany (78^th Combat Engineer Battalion) and the Republic of Vietnam (Province Engineer Advisor) along with numerous positions in the United States, including service with the famed 3^rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (where he earned not only his spurs, but also his nickname, 'the skull').  His most rewarding assignment was serving as the commander of the historic 4^th Engineer Battalion with the 4^th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado. Prior to teaching at the United States Military Academy at West Point for four years, Dick earned a Masters degree in Civil Engineering and an MBA from Arizona State University.  He also became a Registered Professional Engineer in Virginia.  

The skull came to work for the Middle Atlantic Section of The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (MAPGA) in April of 1995.  He has served as a rules official at numerous local and regional events for both amateurs and PGA Professionals, including three (1996, 2000, 2005) Presidents Cups. He was recognized by the MAPGA with its President’s Award in 1999 and was made an Honorary Member in 2000.  He was further honored by the MAPGA with its 2019 David Wortman Citizen of the Year Award for his volunteer efforts in golf and his community.  Dick has attended 6 USGA/PGA Rules Schools and as a volunteer taught numerous MAPGA/VSGA one-day Rules Schools from 1996-2016.  He was also recognized by the Virginia State Golf Association (VSGA) with its 2011 President’s Award for his long and dedicated service to golf, the VSGA, and his community. 

During the skull’s years with the MAPGA and thanks to the leadership and diligence of the past officers, members of the Board of Directors, and other staff, the Section’s investment funds grew substantially.  The Section’s current office was completed and occupied in June of 2006.  It is not only a busy working-office, but also a golf museum, library and houses the Section Hall of Fame that together reflect the long and storied history of the MAPGA. Dick “retired” from the MAPGA in early 2012 after nearly 17 years. In 2013 the Section officers and Board of Directors named the office Conference/Boardroom in his honor.

In late 2011, Dick contacted Steve Greiner, PGA the then Head PGA Professional at Fort Belvoir Golf Club to offer his assistance with his ongoing Wounded Warrior Golf Program and its potential expansion due to the relocation of a Wounded Warrior Battalion from Walter Reed Army Medical Center to Fort Belvoir.  Steve welcomed this offer and COL Johns has been heavily involved ever since as the Program Administrator in the now Links to Freedom Foundation Program.  Dick keeps quite busy with recruiting/scheduling PGA/LPGA Professional instructors, volunteers, sponsors, and keeping up the paperwork, as well as assisting with fundraisers and speaking to local community groups about this very special and meaningful program.  Over the past 8 years he has put many wounded troops leaving the service in touch with PGA Professionals in their hometowns. In 2013 Dick was made an Honorary Member of the Fort Belvoir (Wounded) Warrior Transition Battalion.

Dick and his first wife, Barbara, have two grown children and two “Great” grandchildren. Daughter Dena served and enjoyed 22 years as an elementary school teacher in Los Angeles. She is married to Jim Vatcher, CEO and President of Jaeger Sports and is a former major league baseball player. Jim and Dena have two sons, twelve year-old, Jack and ten year-old, Graham, both excellent athletes.  Son Kirk is in his 22^nd year with the Drug Enforcement Administration and has served as a DEA Special Agent for over 19 of those years.  Kirk is currently stationed in Saipan, United States CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands). 

(version 11-2-20)