A Profile of George Dean Johnson, Jr.
Born July 22, 1942, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, George D. Johnson, Jr., is the son of the late Dr. George Dean Johnson and the late Elizabeth Heath Johnson. He is married to the former Susan Ann Phifer, daughter of the late Dr. Edward Phifer and Mrs. Edward W. Phifer, of Morganton, North Carolina. They have two children, a son, George D. Johnson, III, born December 10, 1982, and a daughter, Susanna Presnell Johnson, born September 13, 1984. Mr. Johnson is a Member of Episcopal Church of the Advent, Spartanburg, South Carolina.
George D. Johnson, Jr., is Chairman of Johnson Development Associates, Inc. He is founder, former Chief Executive Officer & a former Director of Extended Stay America, Inc. He is a former President of the Domestic Consumer Division of Blockbuster Entertainment, a division of Viacom, Inc. In that position, Johnson was responsible for all U.S. video and music stores. He was formerly the managing general partner of WJB Video, the largest Blockbuster franchisee, which developed over 200 video stores prior to a merger with Blockbuster in 1993. Since 1985 Mr. Johnson has been the managing general partner of American Storage Limited Partnership, a chain of 28 self-storage facilities located in the Carolinas and Georgia. His real estate development company, Johnson Development Associates, Inc., has developed and manages in excess of 6 million square feet of retail space, industrial space, office space and apartments. As a founder and member of the Board of Directors of Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc., he has overseen the opening of more than 2,200 branches. Mr. Johnson has over 30 years of experience developing and managing various businesses.
Mr. Johnson is a founder of Advance America Cash Advance Centers, Inc., and founder of Johnson Development Associates, Inc. He has been the General Partner of American Storage, L.P. since 1985. In addition, Mr. Johnson serves as a member of the Board of Directors of E.J. Victor, Inc., and the Palmetto Institute.
George D. Johnson, Jr., is a former director of: AutoNation, Inc., Boca Resorts, Duke Energy, Viacom, Home Choice, Inc., Alrenco, Inc., William Barnet & Sons, Inc., Bankers Trust of South Carolina, Extended Stay America, Inc., Norfolk Southern Corporation, Upstate Forever, Advance America Cash Advance Centers, Inc., and founder and former member of the board of Johnson Waste, Inc., and Morgan Corp.
He is a past Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. He has served as President of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the South Carolina State Development Board and Chairman and member of the Board of Trustees of Converse College.
Mr. Johnson was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1969 and served through 1974. He was inducted into the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame in 1999. He was the recipient of the Young Alumnus Distinguished Service Award given by Wofford College for the year 1973.