Thomas A. Johnston
Encyclopedia
Thomas A. Johnston was the President of the Kemper Family School and Kemper Military School
in Boonville, Missouri
from 1881 to 1928. He was known as the "Builder of Kemper".
Johnston was born near Boonville in 1848. He joined the Confederate Army in October 1864, and served under General John Marmaduke and General Sterling Price
through the end of the war. After the war, Johnston studied for two years at a private academy in Prairie Home, Missouri
before entering the Kemper Family School in fall 1867. He studied under Professor Frederick T. Kemper
until 1871, the was admitted to the senior class of the University of Missouri
. A year later, he was back at the Kemper School as an instructor with an A.B. from Missouri.
Following the death of school founder Kemper in 1881, T.A. Johnston, was named as the president and placed in control of the school. Under Johnston’s leadership, the school significantly changed. Although Frederick Kemper was the founder of the school, Colonel Johnston guided the school through its largest period of growth and established its national reputation. Under Johnston's leadership, most of the buildings on campus were constructed. He also made the seminal decision to convert Kemper to a military school. In 1885, Johnston added the military training program and structure to Kemper, then changed the name to Kemper Military School
in 1899. Johnston introduced the Standard of Honor in 1915, began a formal ROTC program in 1916, and added a junior college
in 1923. He saw enrollment grow from around 60 in the 1880's and '90's to 160 by 1910 to 517 in 1918. In the 1920's enrollment stayed steady at around 350 cadets. In 1928, Colonel Johnston announced his retirement and selected Colonel Arthur M. Hitch
, his son-in-law, to lead the school. Johnston continued as President of Kemper until his death in 1934. After Hitch's retirement in 1948, T. A. Johnston's son, Colonel Harris Johnston, who had served on the Kemper faculty since 1904, was selected as the new superintendent.
Kemper Military School
Kemper Military School & College was a private military school located in Boonville, Missouri. Kemper filed for bankruptcy and closed in 2002. The school's motto was "Nunquam Non Paratus" .-Early years under Frederick T. Kemper:...
in Boonville, Missouri
Boonville, Missouri
This page is about the city in Missouri. For other communities of the same name, see Boonville Boonville is a city in Cooper County, Missouri, USA. The population was 8,202 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cooper County. The city was the site of a skirmish early in the American Civil...
from 1881 to 1928. He was known as the "Builder of Kemper".
Johnston was born near Boonville in 1848. He joined the Confederate Army in October 1864, and served under General John Marmaduke and General Sterling Price
Sterling Price
Sterling Price was a lawyer, planter, and politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, who served as the 11th Governor of the state from 1853 to 1857. He also served as a United States Army brigadier general during the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate Army major general in the American Civil...
through the end of the war. After the war, Johnston studied for two years at a private academy in Prairie Home, Missouri
Prairie Home, Missouri
Prairie Home is a town, with legal status as a city, in Cooper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 220 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
before entering the Kemper Family School in fall 1867. He studied under Professor Frederick T. Kemper
Frederick T. Kemper
Frederick T. Kemper was the founder of the school that later became Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri.Kemper was born in Madison County, Virginia in 1816. His brother was General James Kemper, who gained fame at the Battle of Gettysburg, and later became Governor of Virginia...
until 1871, the was admitted to the senior class of the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
. A year later, he was back at the Kemper School as an instructor with an A.B. from Missouri.
Following the death of school founder Kemper in 1881, T.A. Johnston, was named as the president and placed in control of the school. Under Johnston’s leadership, the school significantly changed. Although Frederick Kemper was the founder of the school, Colonel Johnston guided the school through its largest period of growth and established its national reputation. Under Johnston's leadership, most of the buildings on campus were constructed. He also made the seminal decision to convert Kemper to a military school. In 1885, Johnston added the military training program and structure to Kemper, then changed the name to Kemper Military School
Kemper Military School
Kemper Military School & College was a private military school located in Boonville, Missouri. Kemper filed for bankruptcy and closed in 2002. The school's motto was "Nunquam Non Paratus" .-Early years under Frederick T. Kemper:...
in 1899. Johnston introduced the Standard of Honor in 1915, began a formal ROTC program in 1916, and added a junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
in 1923. He saw enrollment grow from around 60 in the 1880's and '90's to 160 by 1910 to 517 in 1918. In the 1920's enrollment stayed steady at around 350 cadets. In 1928, Colonel Johnston announced his retirement and selected Colonel Arthur M. Hitch
Arthur M. Hitch
Arthur M. Hitch , was the Superintendent of Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri from 1928 to 1948....
, his son-in-law, to lead the school. Johnston continued as President of Kemper until his death in 1934. After Hitch's retirement in 1948, T. A. Johnston's son, Colonel Harris Johnston, who had served on the Kemper faculty since 1904, was selected as the new superintendent.