In Memoriam
Thomas H. Johnson III (1956-2024)
Read more about an incredible champion for Somerset, Perry County and all of Appalachian Ohio.
On Sept. 11, 2001, Tom Johnson was living and working in London, England, at a banking job that had him traveling all over the world. Tom had even worked in the World Trade Center.
He had always planned to return to Somerset in Perry County, where he grew up and his father had been mayor, but the time had not yet been right. In 2001, he decided it was time to slow down and move back to his hometown and his family to see how he could make a difference.
When Tom returned home, he realized Perry County was not receiving as many resources as other areas – in part, he believed, because of the philanthropy gap. He set to work immediately, joining community organizations and writing grants to help the Village of Somerset get stimulus funding.
Tom soon joined with others who wanted to start a local community foundation and partnered with FAO to launch the Community Foundation for Perry County (CFPC). And over time, he became mayor of Somerset and a devoted champion for Appalachian Ohio.
“Even when I was overseas I wanted to make a planned gift that would benefit the community I was from,” Tom said. “The only vehicle I had was my will, but my goal was a permanent endowment, so it would be around for the community’s benefit for a longer period of time.”
Through CFPC, he knew, everyone with a heart for Perry County would have a permanent and lasting way to invest in their communities. For Tom, that meant leaving a gift in his will so he can continue to make a difference in Perry County for generations to come.