Richard Ernest Johnson, 89, a criminal defense lawyer with a heart
He took an interest in his clients beyond the courtroom
IT SEEMED as if Richard Johnson was always looking after society's underdogs.
As a criminal-defense lawyer, his concern for his clients extended well beyond the courtroom.
"He wanted to encourage his clients to turn their lives around," said his daughter, Diahnne. "He tried to show them there was a better way to live."
And when Richard worked for the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, one of his jobs was to make sure minority workers got a fair shake.
Richard Ernest Johnson, who opened his own law office in Center City in the mid-'70s, a history and news junkie who devoured newspapers and magazines and kept up with TV news shows, and a devoted family patriarch, died of heart failure July 31. He was 89 and lived in Center City.
Richard practiced law into his mid-80s, when his health began to fail. Even then, some of his clients wouldn't let him retire fully. He was often called for legal help, but only handled cases he could deal with on the phone.
Richard overcame a childhood bout with polio to lead a long and fruitful life.
"His doctors didn't think he would live beyond childhood," Diahnne said. "He was left with a limp, but that was all."
Richard was born in Philadelphia to Jennie and Wilford Taylor. He graduated from Overbrook High School.
Encouraged by his parents to further his education, he enrolled at West Virginia University, where he majored in history.
Money was short, and he took several jobs to pay for his education. He worked for the Penn Fruit Co., the old B&O Railroad and the city probation office, did substitute teaching and worked at the Post Office.
He went on to Howard University where he attained his law degree. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
Before opening his own practice, Richard worked for 15 years for the Social Security Administration, helping people with claims. For the Health, Education and Welfare Department, he served as an equal employment opportunity arbitrator and labor relations manager.
While working for Social Security, he met Barbara Gause, who became his wife for over 40 years.
Richard worked with a law firm for a time before launching his own practice.
"He handled a lot of murders," his daughter said. "He would talk about what hard lives some of his clients had, not that he would see that as an excuse for their behavior. But he had a lot of compassion for them. He would also counsel their family members.
"He spent a lot of time at prisons, visiting his clients. He spent time talking with them about how their lives could be different."
As a news junkie, Richard bought the Daily News, Inquirer and New York Times, as well as the news magazines, Time and Newsweek.
"If he saw something that interested him, he would call us and say, 'Did you see that about so-and-so?' " Diahnne said. "He thought everyone should be as interested in current events as he was."
"He even liked to watch cartoons, like Bugs Bunny," Diahnne said. "And he was a big jazz fan."
He was a member of the Barristers Association, the Philadelphia Bar Association and the NAACP.
Besides his wife and daughter, he is survived by a son, Richard Johnson Jr., and a grandson, Drew. He was predeceased by his former wife, Dorothea, a brother, Wilfred, and a grandson, Richard Johnson III.
Services: A memorial service will be held at a later date.