Bruce Havens Johnson

Bruce H. Johnson was born April 7, 1913, in Greencastle, Indiana, the son of J. Paul and Helen Havens Johnson. He went to his Heavenly Home with his Savior on December 13, 2011 in Oklahoma City, OK. He died of congestive heart failure, following many years of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, and diabetes. Mr. Johnson was educated in Indiana, graduating from Shortridge High School in Indianapolis, in 1929. He attended Butler University, graduating with a degree in Economics and Business Administration in 1933. Indiana University School of Law awarded him the then unusual degree of Juris Doctor in 1936. He practiced law in Indianapolis, specializing in federal tax law. He was the first secretary of the section of Taxation of the Indiana State Bar Association and a Chairman of the Young Lawyers Section of that bar association.

In 1939 he married Frances Richman, of Columbus, Indiana, from which union came Judy, now Mrs. David Brown of Coppell, Texas, and Gregory Bruce Johnson of Boulder, Colorado. The marriage lasted almost 70 years (less 10 days), until Mrs. Johnson’s death June 7, 2009.

In December of 1947 he joined the Office of the Chief Counsel, IRS Interpretative Division, becoming Assistant Head of that Division in 1950. In September of 1951 he came to Oklahoma City, to join the firm of Embry, Johnson, Crowe, Tolbert and Boxley, now known as Crowe & Dunlevy. Mr. Johnson practiced law with that firm until he retired in 1978. He lectured on tax subjects at various schools and bar association meetings, including New York University, and the Universities of Texas, Tulane, and Illinois. He was a frequent speaker at the Southwestern Legal Foundation in Dallas. He taught Oil and Gas Taxation at Oklahoma City School of Law in 1960 and 1966. He served on committees of the Tax Section of the American Bar Association, including one on Natural Resources as chairman, and from 1963 to 1966 was a member of the Council of the Taxation Section. He was a Life Member of the American Law Institute, having been elected to membership in 1952. He practiced before the Supreme Court of Indiana, the Supreme Court of Oklahoma, and the federal and district courts of both states. He was a member of the bar of The Tax Court of the United States and of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was a member of the Oklahoma City Tax Lawyers Ass’n (President, 1956-57); of the Tax Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association (Chairman, 1955); Federal Bar Association (President of local chapter, 1965-66) and a former trustee of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation. He was appointed by the Governor Of Oklahoma in 1967 to serve, and did serve, on a committee to advise on the adoption of provisions of the Oklahoma Constitution to allow the state income tax law to be made similar to the provisions of the federal tax law.

During a time in the 1950's when disputes arose as to the proper functions of attorneys and CPAs, he organized, with a local CPA, a group of top practitioners of both professions, to co-operate in the joint study of tax law, to the benefit of clients of both groups. The format was copied by

other lawyers and accountants. Several such groups continue to meet weekly more than 50 years later.

He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. He served as a trustee and chairman of the board of Trustees of the Baptist Medical Center of Oklahoma Foundation.

He was a member at different times of Quail Creek Golf and Country Club and of Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, at both of which he had many pleasant rounds of golf with delightful companions. He made 8 holes-in-one during that time. In 1983 he joined Pacer Fitness Center, where he enjoyed the friendship and camaraderie of many of its members.

He is survived by his daughter Judy Brown of Coppell, TX and son-in-law David; a granddaughter Melissa (husband Dr. Spencer Banzhaf) of Atlanta, GA.; a son, Gregory B. of Boulder, CO and his wife Donna and their 3 children, Erik (and his wife Shara), Ruth, (Mrs. Jonah) Werner, all of Boulder; and Julie (Mrs. Robert) Golter, of Los Gatos, CA in addition to three step-grandchildren Rebecca (Mrs. John) Singleton, of Frederick, CO, Deborah (Mrs. Avery) Cruz, of Oceanside, CA, and Mark Brown of Tampa, FL. Also surviving are 5 great-grandchildren, and several nephews and nieces.

A memorial Service will be held Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 11:00 A.M. at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Memorial contributions may be to the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1146, Oklahoma City, OK 73101-1146. Tributes may be left by visiting www.hahncookfuneral.com.

Arrangements under the direction of Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors, Oklahoma City, OK.