A Milestone for the
Maryland Bar Association

By Lisa Gregory

As an undergraduate student at UMBC, Harry S. Johnson, political science '76, considered a career in politics. "I grew up in an era of activists, from the Black Panthers to those protesting the Vietnam War," he recalls. He saw that change came from political power, adding, "Especially for African-Americans the law was a way of improving their lives. Elected officials such as Barbara Jordan and Shirley Chisholm were icons. They were making political changes."

Johnson would go on to become a lawyer instead of a politician, but he would remain committed to public service and influencing change, "working behind the scenes," he says. Now, he is making history himself. Johnson recently became the first African-American president of the Maryland Bar Association. As president, he hopes to encourage lawyers to be leaders in the community and enhance the involvement of minorities in the legal profession.

Those who know him best, such as long-time friend and fellow lawyer James Wiggins, are not surprised by this latest accomplishment. Says Wiggins, "Harry has always been a leader."

Wiggins and Johnson met at UMBC, where both were majoring in political science. "Harry was a serious student and always involved in campus activities," says Wiggins. While at UMBC, Johnson was a student athlete, playing tennis, and president of the student government. By the time he had graduated in 1976, he had been encouraged by counselors at UMBC's Career Development Center to pursue a law degree. "There were people at UMBC who saw potential in me," he says.

Johnson went on to graduate from the University of Maryland School of Law and then joined the law firm of Whiteford, Taylor & Preston. In 1986, he became the firm's first African-American partner. His legal work has focused primarily on product liability, mass tort and professional liability.

In the midst of a successful career, Johnson has never failed to reach out. He is an advocate for minority recruitment in the state's law firms and has established a mentorship program pairing African-American law students with Baltimore attorneys. At UMBC, he and Wiggins, along with other fellow alums, established the Second Generation Scholarship Fund. "We want to support the next generation by raising scholarship money and providing positive role models," says Johnson. "We're saying, 'We did it. You can too.'"

Johnson has also worked with a wide variety agencies and organizations, including the Board of Directors for GBMC HealthCare, the Greater Baltimore Committee's Economic Development Council, and Baltimore County's Maryland Human Relations Commission, among others. He also was recently named by Governor Robert Ehrlich to serve on the Appellate Judicial Nominating Commission.

"Harry just doesn't serve on committees with people," says Wiggins. "He develops relationships — and he has developed a tremendous amount of relationships."

Many of those same people were there to show their support during the official ceremony when Johnson became president of the nearly 21,000-member Maryland Bar Association. "These people wanted to be there," says Wiggins. "They wanted Harry to know they were there, which is a testament to the type of person Harry is."