Latest news with #AllenJohnson
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Veterans' park visitors honor the fallen
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) — Picnickers and bicyclists aren't the only ones drawn to city parks on the first holiday of the summer. Memorial Day was filled with emotion among the visitors to Veterans' Memorial Park. Allen Johnson of Gregory, SD is visiting his daughter in Sioux Falls. It was important to him to make a stop at the Veterans' Memorial Park. Sanford Sports Complex impacting youth sports 'Something to remember the day and what it means,' Johnson said. Johnson served as an army pay clerk in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. 'Never saw any actual action of any kind other than watching out my tent across the bay and watching the helicopters shoot tracers into the hillside,' Johnson said. Johnson's older brother, Ronnie, served in Vietnam at the same time. He lost his life during a body recovery mission. 'Booby trap got him. We didn't really know for sure for years, until a guy came through from Chicago moving to New Mexico that was with him and got wounded at the same time, told us that story,' Johnson said. Johnson's thoughts are with his late brother on this Memorial Day. 'I miss him. I think about him. He's buried out at the cemetery by Gregory there. I go out several times a year, just to stop by,' Johnson said. Jim Dyer of Sioux Falls also paid a Memorial Day visit to the park. He served in the South Dakota Air National Guard from 1978 to 1982. 'I was a security police officer in the air guard. So, mine was during peacetime, so I didn't have anything exciting in my life. But it was fun to serve,' Dyer said. Military service also runs in Dyer's family. 'My brother, he was in the Marines for 8-9 years. He also served in the air guards for several years and he did a tour overseas in Iraq,' Dyer said. Dyer is here to pay tribute to brother Chris, who's life was also cut short. 'When he was in the Marines, he spent time down in Camp Lejeune. He got that tainted water and he ended up dying of cancer. Once he was diagnosed, he got about five extra years,' Dyer said. So many of the people who come to this park have ties to the military. And they're grateful that there's a place in the heart of Sioux Falls to pay their respects to those who have served their country. 'Everybody should be visiting a military site. Everybody, whether you served, or not, just to pay those respects for those who did and those who never came home,' Dyer said. Veterans' Memorial Park is located near Terrace Park in north-central Sioux Falls. It's open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business Journals
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Coca-Cola UNITED: Refreshing Birmingham for 123 years
Crawford T. Johnson Sr. established Birmingham Coca-Cola Bottling Company in 1902 in a modest facility at 109 North 24th Street. The business was launched with $12,000 of capital, most of which he borrowed. The workforce consisted of himself, one assistant & a delivery mule named Bird. Because competitors were imitating the popular beverage, The Coca-Cola Company and its bottlers designed a uniquely shaped bottle to distinguish it from imposters. In 1915, Birmingham was the site of a secret test to produce what would become, and remains to this day, the world's most recognized commercial symbol – the contour Coca-Cola bottle. Meanwhile, the Coca-Cola System was growing rapidly and Johnson Sr. saw opportunity beyond Birmingham. His sons – Crawford Johnson Jr. & Allen Johnson – joined the business in the 1920s, which allowed Johnson Sr. to focus on acquiring Coca-Cola franchises in other southern markets. WWII brought material and ingredient shortages that severely limited bottling operations. Many of the company's experienced associates joined the military. Johnson Jr. and Allen Johnson volunteered, so Johnson Sr. resumed leading the company. His untimely death in Dec. 1942 left a sudden void in experienced leadership. Strength of family was revealed as Johnson Sr.'s wife, Caroline, having demonstrated skill and determination in important civic endeavors such as the establishment of Children's of Alabama hospital, took over the presidency of the company. She led it until her sons returned from active duty. In the post-war boom, sales hit new heights and the third generation assumed leadership of the company. Bringing fresh entrepreneurial energy, Crawford Johnson III led the integration of four scattered territories into a single company – Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc. (UNITED) — which was incorporated in 1974. Johnson III also advanced the family and company legacy of service to others. In his role as chair of the Coca-Cola Bottlers' Association, he led the creation of the prestigious and national Coca-Cola Scholars program to honor the 100th anniversary of Coca-Cola in 1986. The support of education and scholarships remains an important part of the company's philanthropy today. Retired Chairman and CEO Claude Nielsen, later joined by retired CEO John Sherman and current CEO Mike Suco, ushered in Coca-Cola UNITED's second century — building a talented leadership team and world-class commercial capability, in preparation for significant growth. Coca-Cola UNITED's amazing story continues today. Now with the fifth generation of the Johnson family working in the business, Coca-Cola UNITED has more than 10,000 associates in more than 50 facilities across six southeastern states (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, and TN.) Historically significant franchises within the Coca-Cola UNITED family include Chattanooga, the world's first Coca-Cola bottler; Atlanta, home of the worldwide Coca-Cola System; and Columbus, Georgia, development site of the original Coca-Cola formula. Since 2014, Coca-Cola UNITED has more than tripled in size, scope and revenues. The stage is set for continued growth as the company continues to bring value and delight for its associates, consumers, customers and communities throughout the southeast. In 2024, Coca-Cola UNITED broke ground on a new facility in Birmingham's Kingston community – an approximate $330 million investment that is expected to create up to 50 new jobs and retain more than 750 jobs in the Magic City. Construction is slated for completion in early 2027. Coca-Cola UNITED in 2013 purchased the land of the former Stockham Valves and Fittings site on 40th Street North, about two miles from its current location off East Lake Boulevard, in the hopes of one day building a new facility. The space will include a 150,000-square-foot multi-floor office complex and a 300,000-square-foot warehouse featuring the leading-edge Vertique case picking system that is among the most advanced in the beverage industry. Coca-Cola UNITED has invested in Vertique technology at six of its locations, including Mobile in 2021. The new facility, which along with its famous trademark will be highly visible to traffic along Interstate 20/59, will house the Birmingham Coca-Cola sales center as well as Coca-Cola UNITED's Corporate, Central Region and North Alabama Division headquarters – the latter of which supports the company's operations in Carbon Hill, Cullman, Florence, Oxford and Tuscaloosa. The company's Classic Food and Vending arm, customer solutions center and services department will also be based in the new facility. For more than 120 years, Coca-Cola UNITED has remained true to its foundational core values of Quality, Excellence, Integrity & Respect. Local relationships, personalized customer service and strong community engagement have been the foundation of the business for more than a century.
Miami Herald
14-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
HBCU track program inks six-figure deal with hair care brand
North Carolina A&T, the nation's largest HBCU, has announced a groundbreaking multi-year partnership with Mielle, a leading textured hair care brand, marking a \$200,000 investment in its nationally ranked track and field programs. This move further solidifies the role of HBCU athletic programs as key spaces for brand alignment, empowerment, and long-term impact. As the official textured hair brand of A\&T's track and field program, Mielle's commitment goes beyond surface-level support. The company will provide annual product donations, educational resources on hair health, and direct funding to cover essentials like training, travel, and equipment. These contributions aim to close the funding gap often faced by HBCU athletic programs while enhancing the holistic wellness and confidence of Black student-athletes. This partnership also reflects a deeper mission. Mielle, led by founder and CEO Monique Rodriguez, has built its reputation on community reinvestment. By aligning with North Carolina A&T, Mielle is not only amplifying a leading HBCU athletic brand but also fostering future leaders shaped by discipline, excellence, and culture. The Aggies' track and field legacy speaks for itself-with multiple national titles, NCAA honors, and most recently, a CAA championship under Coach Allen Johnson. With this partnership, Mielle and NC A&T continue to push boundaries, proving that HBCU excellence is worth the investment-and ready to take center stage. The post HBCU track program inks six-figure deal with hair care brand appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
