Rudolph Purivance Johnson

RUDOLPH (RUDY) P. JOHNSON was born September 30, 1923, in Baltimore to his late parents Ida Johnson Armstrong and Ernest P. Johnson. Rudy was a member of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church. He graduated from Douglass High School in1941. At Douglass H.S. He was known as “Mr Basketball.” He proudly would state that the members of his class still meet. In the fall of that year he entered Lincoln University (PA). At Lincoln, he co-captained the track teams and also played football. He was initiated in the Epsilon of Kappa Alpha Psi in 1943. He was a member of Sigma Xi Scientific Honorary Fraternity. He served in the U.S. Army Transportation Corps 1944-46 in the Pacific Theater on Leshima and Okinawa. After his completion of service, he received an Honorable Discharge. Rudy returned to Lincoln as a Pre-Med major, graduating in 1948 with an A.B. Degree. LM Johnson began his career as a biological aid at the Medical Research Institute for Chemical Defense, Edgewood Arsenal MD in 1948. At the Medical Research Institute he assisted in studies to determine the physiological effects of toxic agents. By the early 1960s, as a Research Physiologist, he was planning, organizing and conducting independent studies to explain the physiological mechanisms involved in cardio-vascular and respiratory alterations caused by chemical warfare agents. Through the years Rudy worked with several well known scientists, e.g., Lasker Award winner Dr. John A. Clements, on the measurement of Physiological parameter such as pulmonary mechanics (lung airway resistance and compliance), defining more closely alterations caused by exposure to nerve gas and the treatment that followed. His studies described the role of pulmonary surfactant, he regards this discovery as his most important work. Experiments led to studies of Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Haylin membrane disease, lung elasticity, oxygen toxicity and lung-airway resistance, all of which are of international interest in the decrease of infant mortality. He worked in the development of an artificial surfactant now being used to treat premature infants. Rudy was also one of the main scientists that discovered the XYZ Muscle tissue bands in Laboratory animals that explained the contraction-extension of muscle tissue which was use to explain human movement and the effects of Chemical Warfare Agent on muscle tissue. Rudy worked in a variety of disciplines involved in research and development. He was instrumental in setting up a pulmonary function laboratory and contributed to the evaluation of the Edgewood Resuscitator, the E29R-1-2-3 mask and the M17A field protective mask for air-mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. He received a Sustained Superior Performance Award for his contribution to the development of the resuscitator. He retired from MRI in 1983 after 36 years of service for the Dept. of Defense. Subsequently he worked with the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health on a national research effort in the study of hypertension. At Edgwood he published more than 50 papers and abstracts. On the Monday following his last day of federal service Rudy registered in a basic course at the Maryland Institute of Art. He continued with advanced courses at the local Senior Citizens center, taught by college instructors. This led to a second successful career as an accomplished artist. He worked in a variety of of media: acrylics, oils, water colors, pastels, charcoal and sculpts in clay and alabaster. His subjects include portraits, still lifes, seascapes and landscapes. His works have been shown in more than 25 exhibitions throughout Maryland. Since retirement Rudy has traveled extensively. Several visits to Europe have included Germany, England and France. He has taken six cruises and visited all corners of the U.S. Rudy is a 33 degree Mason and a Life Member of the Baltimore Alumni Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. he is a member of the NAACP. He is survived by one daughter, Delmeta J. Perry; one son-in-law, Tony R. Perry; three grandchildren, Tony Steven, Marcus Rudolph and Sarah LaGerald Perry; two granddaughters-in-law, Mia and Candice Perry; six great-grandchildren, Marcus C., Mason T., Maxtin A., Romen X., Lourdes G., and Landen G. Perry; one aunt, Viol;a Gambrill (102 years young), and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of other relatives and friends.

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Rudolph Purivance Johnson

September 30, 1923 - December 18, 2014