Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Summer 2014 - (Page 45)

Portrait of a Professional Earl S. Johnson DDS Mill Valley, California By Dr. Gerald Nelson I nterviewing my lifelong friend and partner Earl Johnson was quite an experience. Although we have spent much time together in the past, there is always something new to learn. Earl has been my guide on biomechanics and efficiency since we met at UCSF in 1961. His many years editing the "Earl's Pearls" column in the PCSO Bulletin have produced many fans. E Gerald Nelson (GN): Tell us something about your childhood. DR. EARL JOHNSON arl Johnson (EJ): I like to say my mother was exported to Scotia during her pregnancy, so I could be imported eight miles back to Fortuna. Fortuna, CA, is on the northeast shore of the Eel River, 15 miles south of Eureka. Scotia is a company town owned by the Pacific Lumber Company, which was, at the time, the largest lumber mill in the world. My dad was a high school teacher and taught agriculture, a useful trade in Northern California at the time. I got my first job at age five! Ardis and I grew potatoes and corn in our mini-farm. We would harvest them and sell them alongside the road. My first harvest brought me $15.00. Our family moved to Santa Rosa when I was six. The day after we moved into town, my dad arranged for Ardis, Marilyn, and me to go and pick prunes at a local ranch. I didn't escape prune picking until I was 14. During my childhood, every summer we would pick prunes, walnuts, blueberries, and hops. It was quite clear that we had to save money for college! Hops were, by far, the worst things to pick. My mother set a good example, picking hops right along with all of us. I have two older sisters: Marilyn, eight years older, and Ardis, five years older. Marilyn was an occupational therapist for many years. Ardis taught elementary school. Our young family was pretty financially stressed. During the war, many of our needs were rationed, such as gas, butter, and bacon. We had to make our own margarine, coloring a solid cube of white vegetable fat. (Don't try to offer me a butter substitute!) I loved to visit my uncle, who was in the Coast Guard in San Francisco, since he could serve us bacon. Then my mother got her California teaching credential and taught home economics in Willits and at Sonoma High School. Both of my parents let us know quite early that we were headed for college. We all worked, saved our money, and all graduated. Marilyn graduated from the University of Wisconsin and Ardis graduated from San Jose State. My parents helped with our college expenses for 15 continuous years. I originally wanted to go into medicine, so I applied to Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, and Johns Hopkins. I was offered scholarships to three colleges, SUMMER 2014 * PCSO BULLETIN 45

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Summer 2014

The Big Easy: Not Always So Easy
About the PCSO Mission Statement
AAO Trustee Report
PCSO Business
AAO Council on Scientific Affairs (COSA) Report
Component Reports
PCSO at a Glance
AAOF Report
Decrease Stress and Increase Volume
Resident Spotlight: Loma Linda School of Dentistry Postgraduate Orthodontic Program
Younger Member Spotlight: Dr. Melissa Bailey
Third Molar Protocols
Editorial: Special Section
PCSO Program Talk: Orthodontic Residency Programs and the Use of TADs
Case Report: Pre-Treatment
Faculty Files: TADs in Orthodontics: A Review
Seasoned Practitioner's Corner: Dr. Terry McDonald Interviews Dr. Michael Chaffee on TADs
Case Report: Post-Treatment
Pearls of the Pacific: Instant Edentulous Anchorage
Portrait of a Professional: Dr. Earl S. Johnson
Sweet Farewell: Retainers and Retention
In Memory: Dr. Burton Littleton Fletcher

Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Summer 2014