Roy C. Johnson
When Roy told his wife, Mary, that he was thinking about getting involved in the Knights of Columbus, she was confused.  The picture in her mind was of men wearing hats with plumes, carrying swords and performing the duties of the Honor Guard.  Roy had just stepped out of the Police Honor Guard and it didn't seem he really wanted to get involved in that sort of thing again so quickly.  Roy recalls thinking about the Knights before he was approached about joining by Roger Shaha.  He felt that he was looking for some sort of involvement--some way of strengthening his faith.

  He didn't have to wait long as a Knight to find that involvement.  At the first meeting he attended after receiving the First Degree, Roy found himself the chairman of the crew that planned, as a service project, to paint the lower level of the St. Bernard Parish Center.  Everything seemed to happen so fast, and he recalls being worried about being there by himself for months.  "But I was overwhelmed by the number of men who showed up.  We had one man on each window and we were finished in just a couple of hours."

  Roy showed a great enthusiasm for the workings of the Council right from the start and was one of the original ten members of the Steering Committee at a time when he hadn't yet made Third Degree.  It was Roy who brought to the attention of the Steering Committee and the Council the Teddy Bear Program conducted by the Green Bay Police Department and he was instrumental in getting the Council interested in supporting the project.

  Roy has been a part of the Green Bay Police Department for some 23 years now, being promoted to the rank of Captain in December of 1991.  He says the most challenging part of his job is mastering the new technology.  He's responsible for about fifty people and often spends his work time answering questions, dealing with other agencies, handling warrants and duty rosters and in general fulfilling the position of "resident expert on traffic", his area of special expertise.  He describes his average day as often "chaos" and sometimes gets by relying on his supply of mineral water.

  Roy is a man of strong beliefs and convictions, not afraid to speak his mind.  He feels that he's not one to put on airs: "I care what people think about me, but that doesn't hold me back from doing what I think is right."  He'd like to be remembered as someone who tried to make a difference, someone who was a good example to his children.  The Knights have been for him a source of camaraderie and friendship, a supportive environment to be a part of.  Roy appreciates the opportunity at meetings to pray the rosary together with people he can only describe as "a nice bunch of guys".

  Roy and Mary have three children--Eric, Brad and Kristin.  They are members of St. Bernard Parish.

January 1993