NRPA Stalwart Walter Johnson retires.

Walter Johnson, CAE, NRPA Great Lakes regional director and executive secretary of NRPA's National Aquatic Branch, will retire at the end of this month after 20 years of service to NRPA.

As director of NRPA's Great Lakes region, Johnson increased the Great Lakes region's membership from 3,800 to 6,300 members, created and conducted the NRPA National Forum on Marketing Leisure Services, National Forum of Community-Based Special Recreation Programs, NSPR Maintenance Management School and Recreation Programming Forum.

Johnson was inducted into the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in 1996. He achieved Certified Association Executive (CAE) status from the American Society of Association Executives in 1989.

Johnson cites the creation and development of the National Aquatic Section, now the National Aquatic Branch, and the subsequent presentation of the annual NRPA National Aquatic Conference, now in its 19th year, as a highlight of his career. One year alter the conference's inception, Johnson developed NRPA's National Aquatic Management School in concert with Charlie Reitz, then NRPA's Pacific Regional Director. The school is presented each year in conjunction with NRPA's National Aquatic Conference.

Other highlights of Johnson's career include introducing the national Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) certification program, Better Beaches and Waterfront seminars, acquiring nearly $ 1 million of U.S. Coast Guard grant funding for boating safety education programs and publications, and the NRPA/U.S. cooperatively developed Youth Sailing Program.

Johnson assisted in the organization and chairman ship of the National Aquatic Summit, a coalition of 65 national aquatic organizations, associations and corporations. He has served as an advisor or partner to numerous aquatic-related organizations, including the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, National Safe Boating Council and the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Johnson received the esteemed Paragon Award from the International Hall of Fame in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., for his contribution to recreational swimming.

Though much of Johnson's NRPA career has been focused on serving the previously underserved aquatic professional, Johnson has also contributed to the success of other recreation professionals.

For the past 20 years, Johnson has coordinated the applications and judging of the prestigious National Gold Medal Award Program for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management, an award program that honors outstanding community park and recreation agencies throughout the nation. Johnson also organized and conducted NRPA's first National Leisure and Aging Conference, which later became NRPA's Leisure and Aging Section.

Before his service to NRPA, Johnson served for 21 years as the executive director of four Chicagoland park districts. He participated in the development of legislation that enabled the formation of the North Shore Special Recreation Association, the first special recreation association in Illinois. A conglomerate of ten Chicago north suburban park districts, the association focused on providing park access and recreational opportunities to physically and mentally challenged individuals. Johnson also led the organization and became the first chair of the Western DuPage Special Recreation in DuPage County, Ill.

Unlike the cobbler who had no shoes, Johnson sees retirement as an opportunity to practice his profession. How will he play? "Retirement will give me the opportunity to enjoy my hobbies and recreational interests, which include boating, fishing, golfing, oil painting, photography, international travel and memorabilia collecting," he says. Proud of the fact that he has attended 37 of 38 NRPA national congresses and 41 consecutive Illinois Park and Recreation conferences, he plans to remain actively involved within his profession.

Johnson may be contacted at 847-767-7111 or [e-mail].