Business Leader History Maker Johnny C. Burton
Johnny Clivet Burton was born on August 10, 1935 in Luxora, Arkansas to the union of the late Memie and Johnny Bell Cates Burton.
The family moved to Muskegon, Michigan when he was seven years old. He graduated from Muskegon Heights High School and later attended Muskegon Community College and took classes at University of Michigan.
He came to Grand Rapids in 1965 to work as an appliance salesman with Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. then worked for 12 years in sales at Moore Business Forms Inc. He had 20 years of experience in sales and customer relations, involving high volume major accounts as well as small businesses.
He was particularly oriented in marketing procedures.
He left the company after new management was implemented in 1981 and decided to start his own business, Wonderland Business Forms Inc. in a spare room in his house.
Mr. Johnny Burton had a simple message of Community strength through economic empowerment.
In just four years, his customers included companies such as Steelcase Inc., American Seating Co. and the Oldsmobile division of General Motors Corp.
In 1984, Mr. Burton, who chaired the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce's business committee, kicked off Minority Business Week by accusing the city of Grand Rapids of economic redlining.
Three years later, Mr. Burton was honored with the Milo Brown Business Giants award, recognition of business owners who gave back to the African- American community. He believed in economic empowerment through ownership.
His wife Betty established a $52,000 fund for Black business students at Grand Valley State University in memoriam to her late husband.
He served on numerous boards and committees, such as serving on the Commerce department's entrepreneurship committee, was involved with the Grand Valley Blood Bank, the NAACP, Grand Rapids Urban League, Baxter Community Center, member of Michigan Minority Purchasing Council, board member of Project Rehab, member of the Children's Council of Performing Arts, just to name a few.
It seems that his success fits a mold that can be referred to as the cluster concept. The civil rights movement was led by what appears to have been a class of individuals who developed extraordinary credentials for success, of which Martin Luther King, Andrew young, Julian Bond and Jessie Jackson are examples.
Johnny Burton grew up in Muskegon Heights, Michigan, was Johnny Burton, M.C. Burton, and Roy Roberts who matriculated in a class of successful individuals.
Johnny Burton was a mater sales person and entrepreneur with extraordinary business skills.
When a man works hard, achieves and is generous, there is nothing better than to enjoy the fruits of his work. He had a flair for the food life, but he did not enjoy life selfishly. One of his chrematistics was his quiet generosity. Because he was willing to share his talent and ability, many have benefitted.
He was a member of First Community AME Church where he served as a Trustee Emeritus.
On January, 9, 1990, he suffered a stroke at age 54 that left him paralyzed, unable to speak and blind in his right eye. He began his long journey to recovery from a heart disease that he had even before his stroke that left him functioning at less than full speed.
Johnny fought a courageous battle against a weakening heart condition, succumbing to it on February 19, 1995, at Blodgett Medical Center.
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