[ Living and Leaving a Legacy to Rice:
A Memoriam ]

When Cy Johnson entered Rice in 1927, he couldn’t have imagined how his future would be molded by the experience—nor could Rice have anticipated how this brilliant young man would influence his alma mater for years to come.

After working in the West Texas oil fields for a number of years following high school, Cy took on a new challenge—working his way through Rice during the Great Depression. Even though he ran out of money part way through and took a year off to work full time, his determination to study at Rice was unwavering.

So was his interest in another student, Charlotte Ann Collins ’32, who became Mrs. Johnson following graduation. Together, they enjoyed a life full of adventure, travel, and exceptional experiences—and financial success that today benefits the university that brought them together.
“Cy was a genius and an inventor,” Mrs. Johnson said. “But he was a little reserved. He wouldn’t have succeeded as well if he hadn’t attended Rice. No other school could have prepared him the way Rice did.”

What did she mean by that? “Well, Rice gave him that little extra push,” she said. “The excellent faculty made sure he had the education he needed to be successful. That was what allowed him to make the money that he did,” she said, citing dual completion of oil wells, one of his inventions.

Those same fond thoughts of Rice were evident in how Mrs. Johnson handled her financial affairs. Upon his death, Mr. Johnson left all financial decisions for her to make. “We both felt so privileged to go to Rice,” she said. “So I give back to Rice because I’m able to.”

Mrs. Johnson established a scholarship in memory of her mother-in-law, a published author with works in Fondren Library. Mrs. Johnson requested that this scholarship be awarded to working students.

In addition, she made gifts to the university that benefited her during her lifetime and funded an endowment in her husband’s name that took effect at her death. This endowment is designated to repair and replace machinery, lab equipment, and computers in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science in honor of her husband’s career as an engineer.

Although none of her gifts are in her own name, she, too, was a loyal Rice alum. “Oh, I had a lot of fun at Rice,” she said. She then quickly added with a chuckle, “I also made decent grades.”

Following graduation, the couple visited campus often and stayed in touch with many of the good friends they made here. “I’ve had a wonderful life. It’s not one I ever expected to have when I was growing up. But it was exciting. And so was Cy. I ran to keep up with him!”
Mrs. Johnson died in November 2002.