From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)

Johnson, Gregory A.

(born: 1966) 

In 1985, Gregory A. Johnson became the first African American valedictorian graduate of Paducah (KY) Tilghman High School. Johnson had maintained a perfect 4.0 during his entire four years of high school. He and 140 other Presidential Scholars, including Lafayette High School graduate Jill Conway, were recognized by President Reagan during a ceremony held in the White House Rose Garden. The scholars spent a week in Washington, D.C. and also received $1,000 from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.

Greg Johnson was accepted at Brown University and graduated in 1989 with a BA in history and in 1993 with an MD. He earned an MPH in 1998 from Boston University. Johnson has been a medical doctor at Boston University and Harvard University. Born in Paducah, KY, Greg is the son of Rochelle Johnson.

For more see "Reagan recognizes two Kentucky scholars," Lexington Herald-Leader, 6/22/1985, City/State section, p. B2.

Kentucky County & Region

Read about McCracken County, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

Kentucky Place (Town or City)

Read about Paducah, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

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NKAA Source: Lexington herald-leader (newspaper)

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Cite This NKAA Entry:

“Johnson, Gregory A.,” Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, accessed July 27, 2024, https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/index.php/items/show/2017.

Last modified: 2020-10-16 17:29:51