Tommy Swett: Teacher, coach, administrator
Tommy Swett, a long-time University administrator, died on May 18.
Swett retired in 1997 with 28 years of service to the University, working for
three chancellors. He was director of Upward Bound and Student Support Services
when he retired.
Swett was dedicated to the youth of Robeson County. He served a term on the
Board of Education of the Public Schools of Robeson County and became chair.
Swett was a former member of the Board of Directors of Odum Home and
member of the Gideons. He was a driving force behind the local Children's Bible
Ministries, which built Camp Grace, a local summer Christian day camp for youth.
A 1961 UNCP graduate, Swett worked as a school teacher and coach at Les
Maxwell School in Cumberland County. He was recruited to the University in 1971
to be President English Jones' administrative assistant with a variety of duties includ-
ing the University's first alumni affairs coordinator.
Swett served as president of the state and regional Councils of Educational Op-
portunity Programs and served on its national board.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley; one daughter, Kim Locklear, three sons,
Brent, Aubrey and Dwight; a sister, Dorothy; and four brothers, Furman, Bruce,
Vardell and Purnell. He was preceded in death by his parents, the Rev. Tommy and
Bertha Swett, and a brother, James.
Kenneth P. Johnson: Coach and professor
Kenneth P. Johnson, 94, a retired coach and physical education
professor, passed away on October 1 at the Lutheran Retirement
Home.
He was born in Jamestown, N.Y., on January 8, 1915, son of the
late Charles A. and Cora Petrie Johnson.
Dr. Johnson was a 1935 graduate of Jamestown High School. He
earned his bachelor's degree in education from the State University
of New York at Cortland and a master's degree from St. Lawrence
University in Canton, N.Y. He furthered his education by earning his
doctorate in health and physical education from Indiana University
in Bloomington, Ind.
Dr. Johnson was also a World War II veteran in the U. S. Navy,
working in physical therapy at the naval hospital.
He began his teaching career as a physical education teacher with the Dexter Central School System in Dexter, N.Y.
He moved on to teach at Maryville College in Maryville, Tenn., for 10 years before moving on to Oristic College in
Presque Isle, Maine.
Dr. Johnson settled in North Carolina working for 25 years at UNCP, retiring in 1980. During the late 1950s and early
1960s, he spent his summer months in Jamestown, where he ran the tennis program for the Jamestown Parks and Recre-
ation Department.
He attended the First Lutheran Church in Jamestown, and while living in N.C. was a member of the Pine Crest Country
Club in Lumberton and was president of the Pembroke Kiwanis Club.
Dr. Johnson was passionate about sports, and his nickname was "Doc" or "Coach." He was an avid golfer with five
hole in ones to his credit. In his swimming pool, he taught more than 100 low income children from the Lumbee Tribe
how to swim, and in his later years, he could be found teaching someone the game of chess or the piano.
Fall 2009
UNCP Today
16
Kenneth Johnson with wife, Doris.
Faculty & Staff: In Memoriam