Terry Johnson
Terry Wayne Johnson (born April 9, 1942 in Pulaski, Tennessee; died April 13, 2024 in Birmingham) was a founder of Cablevision and co-founder of Masada Resource Group.
Johnson was the son of William Murray Johnson and the former Alma Cole. He graduated Fulton County High School and completed a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Technical Institute in Atlanta. He began his career with NASA and was involved in designing the launching arm used during the Apollo space program. He moved into the cable television business at Birmingham Cable. In the 1970s and built Cablevision into a major company operating in 26 states. He also co-founded Crowley Cellular Communications and joined with Daryl Harms to found Masada Security in 1988. That business later expanded into other fields, including a solid-waste to ethanol conversion venture, Masada Oxynol, and "Masada" became the name for the overall holding company. His other ventures included Crowly Cellular, IShopHere.com, Postron, Shannon Services.
Johnson succeeded Hank Appleton as president and CEO of the Bessemer-based Trillion Digital Communications in July 2001. He retired from business in 2007. He served on the board of directors for the Boy Scouts of America and Grace House Ministries. He was a member of the Republican Eagles and of Shades Mountain Baptist Church.
Johnson married the former Sheron Beasley on Juy 3, 1986 and had four children. He and Sheron bought a large residence at 2124 Christina Cove in the Southlake Estates subdivision for $3.5 million in 1998. They had the view to Indian Valley Lake opened up by removing trees and completed an unfinished basement and pool house. They listed the house for sale in 2012 and put it for auction in 2014 in order to downsize.
Johnson died in 2024 and is nuried at Southern Heritage Cemetery in Pelham.
References
- Anderson, Jon (September 30, 2014) "See inside 18,000-square-foot, waterfront Hoover mansion set to go on auction block." The Birmingham News
- "Terry Wayne Johnson" obituary (2024) Dignity Memorial