Contact: Kimberly Osborne (304) 766-3363 kosborne@wvstateu.edu

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State University (WVSU) alumnus and retired United States Army Brigadier General Walter F. Johnson III has received the inaugural Career Exemplar Award from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU).
Johnson was one of 19 recipients of the award, given to distinguished alumni representing historically black land-grant universities, who achieved excellence in navigating their career pathway and providing mentorship to other traditionally underrepresented students pursuing similar career pathways.
“I am so pleased this well-deserved honor has been bestowed upon General Johnson for his faithful service to his alma mater and our country,” said West Virginia State University President Brian O. Hemphill. “When alumni connect with the University, as the Johnsons have, doors of opportunity open for today’s young people to achieve their dreams through education. For that, I am grateful.”
In the fall of 2014, Johnson and his wife, Doris, committed $750,000 to establish a scholarship for WVSU students majoring in business and WVSU students in the U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).
A 1961 graduate of WVSU, Johnson served in the military for 27 years attaining the rank of Brigadier General in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps, the highest grade that could be achieved in the Medical Service Corps at that time. He was the first African-American and the youngest individual ever selected to serve as Chief of the Medical Service Corps.
After retiring from the service, Johnson launched his own company, Eagle Group International Inc., a full-service health care consulting firm with major civilian, federal and international practices.
Johnson grew Eagle Group from a start-up family operation to a successful enterprise with over $150 million in annual revenue, and more than 1,500 employees in 30 different states and seven foreign countries. In 2008, the family sold the company to Lockheed Martin Corp.
Recipients of the APLU’s Career Exemplar Awards were nominated by their alma maters and evaluated on their commitment to institution, individual achievement, civic engagement and impact in providing access, opportunities and mentorship to current students and new alumni.
The recipients were honored at the APLU’s annual meeting today in Indianapolis, Ind.
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