By Doug McPherson
“I hope it is true that a man can die and yet not only live in others but give them life, and not only life, but that great consciousness of life.” Jack Kerouac
Perhaps it’s fitting that during the holidays – a time of hope, of love and of remembrance – we take time to honor the life of one of our own: Hank Johnson, who passed on September 1 and who served as the executive director of the Lowcountry Golf Course Owners Association on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina from 1992 to 2006. A man who, by all accounts, held an undeniable zest for life.
This column, we hope, is about learning from the life of Hank Johnson.
His family says he was first and foremost, a man of God and demonstrated that in all that he said and did. That he was a welcoming man who would do anything for his people. He was the best husband, the greatest father and grandfather and an exceptional leader.
Hank grew up in South Carolina, inquisitive, a lover of storytelling and blessed with a memory for details that brought his many stories to life. He attended Gordon Military College, The Citadel and then joined the Special Forces. He paused a short time to marry his sweetheart, DeThane McKenzie, who he cherished for 61 years. During the next 22 plus years, Hank rose from private to major. His military awards were many and included three Bronze Stars with valor.
After the military, Hank continued his leadership and service on Hilton Head Island for 34 years – working for the Hilton Head Company, the Sea Pines Corporation, Melrose Plantation (on Daufuskie Island), the National Golf Course Owners Association, and his own company, Community Management Services.
Hank’s friends – the friends he made quickly while beginning his time with the NGCOA – were eager to share their thoughts and memories of Hank.
“He was like a big teddy bear. Outgoing, very gregarious and a never-met-a-stranger type of guy. He was a unique individual who remembered every detail from 50 years ago – a great storyteller about his time growing up in South Carolina,” says George Hilliard, former executive director of the Myrtle Beach Golf Course Owners Association. “He liked to hunt and fish. He was heavily involved with the community in Hilton Head. Everyone knew him there.”
Cary Corbitt, former president of the Lowcountry Golf Course Owners Association, says Hank was someone you could call on anytime.
“I actually called him three weeks before he passed to ask him some things. We spoke for about 20 minutes. He was in great spirits,” Corbitt says. “He was gentle and kind, he had tremendous values. I always enjoyed hearing about his past in the military and his passion for the country. He was a military man from deep down and was proud of it.”
Rock Lucas, former NGCOA president and owner of Charwood Golf Club in West Columbia, South Carolina, served with Hank for many years.
“Hank would always keep you laughing,” Lucas says. “He was full of what I call ‘Hankisms,’ or sayings. One of his favorites was when he was doing something difficult, he’d say it was like herding cats. He told me once that if someone owes you money, go to their church service Sunday morning and meet them outside the front door on the steps in front of the pastor and ask them about that money they owe you.” Lucas adds “He made you feel like he's known you all your life and that you were his best friend – that you knew you could depend on him and he would be there for you.”
Terry Sedalik, executive director of the South Carolina Golf Course Owners Association in Charleston, first met Hank 25 years ago and describes him as a patriot, down to earth, friendly, jovial, candid and family oriented.
“He was well known for his long-term relationships and loyalty,” Sedalik says. “And he made a significant contribution to golf by building a team of members in the Lowcountry that enabled substantial accomplishments for the golf industry.”
And Mike Tinkey, past president of the Hilton Head Island Golf Course Owners Association, talks about the early 1990s when he was in the first stages of forming the Lowcountry association – a time when the economy was tanking and developer dollars were scarce.
“It was obvious that we would need an executive director to conduct the business of advocacy, group purchasing, research, benchmarking of facility operations, organizing a golf coupon book to raise funds for destination marketing, and much more,” Tinkey says. “So I met with people from Sea Pines, Palmetto Dunes and a few others, and I asked them who’d be the best person to help me. I thought I’d get a few names, but everyone I spoke to gave me just one name: Hank Johnson. Why was that? I soon learned.”
Tinkey says he came to understand that people trusted Hank with their life. And a story from Hank’s time in Vietnam explains why.
“He was a get-the-job-done kind of man. Even if he had no support, he’d make it happen on his own. In Vietnam, our forces were running low on helicopters, which they needed to get supplies delivered. Hank found out where they made helicopters and he went there, lived there, to make sure the helicopters got back into production. So with Hank, there was no BS, just get it done.”
And all of these men say Hank – the way he went about his work with NGCOA – left lessons for those who work in the world of golf today.
For starters, they say it’s key to remember that you’re in the people business. George Hilliard says Hank knew practically everyone on Hilton Head.
“He definitely knew the stakeholders and was able to build strong alliances with them – to spearhead the activities that needed to be done,” Hilliard says.
One example was creating the tee time reservation system. “He knew how to get the right work done for any project,” Hilliard says.
Cary Corbitt agrees and says Hank offered himself up for the incorporation of Lowcountry.
“They needed a manager and he had proven management skills. I think everyone felt comfortable with Hank coming in and doing what needed to be done,” Corbitt says. “He had a good mind for business. He had contractors and was involved with the Chamber of Commerce. Hank was on the front of all of that.”
Corbitt adds that part of Hank’s people skills was being a good listener.
“He was a great listener, he really heard what people were saying, and then he would weigh a situation and then make a decision,” Corbitt says. “I think we all can learn from Hank and the demeanor he brought to the table.”
And finally, another lesson: Understand that leadership is about service. Rock Lucas says Hank’s contribution to golf came directly in the form of leadership.
“He was a true leader. And leaders lead by serving others. It was, ‘How can I help you? What can I do to make your job or life easier?’ He would find what you needed or what your problems were and help solve them,” Lucas says. “He helped local owners on Hilton Head Island and across the state save money on expenses and helped generate revenue via destination golf travel. He once set up a bulk purchase program [where] owners would place their orders with Hank, and he’d place a bulk order out of Oregon … saving thousands of dollars. The next year, seed prices miraculously came down.”
Mike Tinkey says Hank would say the golf industry could either fail separately or succeed by working together.
“Hank had a way of working with people – to get them to work with each other. They’d share financials to get economies of scale and they’d see grass seed go from 90 cents a pound to 50 cents a pound,” Tinkey says. “He was able to get Hilton Head working with Myrtle Beach and Charleston to get a financial impact statement together for the state legislature so that they understood that for each dollar spent on golf in South Carolina, seven dollars came back to the state.
Tinkey says one thing to remember about Hank was he was “just impeccable – his ability to get things done with trust and respect – was amazing. Whatever the battle was, he was in it completely.
“We’d never lose a war if there were more Hank Johnsons. I stayed in touch with him because I loved being with him. When you were with him, it was like being with goodness.”