For 22 years, Richard “Sonic” Johnson served at the Columbus Air Force Base as a pilot. For another 15, he was the public affairs director on base.
After stepping down from that role early last year, the retired Air Force lieutenant colonel is now the new appointee to the Columbus-Lowndes County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Johnson’s appointment was announced at a Lowndes County Board of Supervisors meeting Monday morning. He was sworn in at the county courthouse Tuesday morning by county Board of Supervisors President Harry Sanders and CVB Board President Steve Wallace.
A joint appointee between the city and the county, he will replace Thomas “Tango Moore,” who resigned from his position in January. Johnson will finish Moore’s unexpired term, which runs through September 2022.
Johnson said he believes his 37 years in leadership roles on the base will help with his work on the CVB board.
“You don’t own any good ideas, you just foster good ideas that happen along,” Johnson said.
His experience working with the CVB in organizing events such as the Fireworks on the Water Fourth of July celebration, which began in 2006, would also help him work with the rest of the board smoothly, he said.
“It just became kind of a fun thing to do,” Johnson said. “And I always enjoyed working with the people of the CVB because they are just … always trying to put the best foot forward representing the community.”
CVB CEO Nancy Carpenter said she and Johnson worked closely in the past and she’s excited to have him on board.
“He and I have been associated with each other over the past 15 or 20 years,” Carpenter said. “He understands economic impact and tourism and I think he’ll do a terrific job.”
Columbus Mayor Robert Smith, who appointed Johnson with Sanders, commended Johnson for his longtime service on the base.
“He has served with over 10 base commanders,” Smith said. “We thought he’s a very good choice.”
Sanders agreed.
“(He’s) got some administrative qualities about (him),” Sanders said. “… He’s competent.
CVB’s board, which oversees local tourism efforts, consists of nine board members. The city council and county board of supervisors each appoint four and jointly appoint the ninth member.
The county still has to fill a vacancy left by Mark Castleberry, who resigned from the board months ago because he moved to Starkville and left his term unexpired until February 2021. Two candidates — Joe Beckett and Kathy Howell — have already applied for the position.
Yue Stella Yu was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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