Stephen Garfield Johnson was born in Windsor, Ontario on June 27, 1946, and resided in Halifax, Nova Scotia for a period of time. Later his family immigrated to United States in 1951 and settled in Pontiac, Michigan. He was the second of four children born to the late Rev. Walter Johnson (Former Pastor Light and Life Chapel Free Methodist Church) and Mrs. Madeleine Johnson. Steve graduated from Pontiac Central High School in 1964 as a member of the National Honor Society after matriculating through the city’s schools where he excelled as a violinist for the orchestra. Shortly thereafter, August 1964, he enrolledin General Motors Institute (Now Kettering University) with an Urban Leaguescholarship under sponsorship of the AC Spark Plug Division of General MotorsCorp. He graduated in 1969 with aBachelor of Electrical Engineering degree.

Steve initially worked as a Product Engineer for AC Spark Plug Division (Now Delphi). In 1973he was promoted to the position of Affirmative Action Administrator for thefacility and later moved to several positions in Industrial and ManufacturingEngineering. In 1975, he earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University . In 1978, Steve moved to Detroit, MI and begun working as a Senior Manufacturing Engineer for the GM Assembly Division at the Warren

Technical Center. He later was promoted to Supervisor of Fastener Engineering for the Buick Oldsmobile Cadillac Group. He later served as the Engineering Group Manager for GMNA Interiors andHVAC Fastening Engineering and ultimately as Group Fastening TechnicalIntegration Engineer (TIE). Steve also served for four years as an Adjunct Professor of Human Relations Management for Spring Arbor University . He is currently retired as of May, 2006 but remains active as a volunteer for his church, the SAE A World in Motion (AWIM)and the Bloomfield Hills Mentoring program, and Phi Eta Psi Fraternity, Inc. as Vice Grand Archigeus, amongst other activities. Steve has been a member of Shield of Faith Church

(formerly St.James Missionary Baptist Church) under the leadership of Bishop James A. Jennings,Sr. Pastor, for 34 years. There he is blessed to currently serve as Chairman of the Deacon Ministry, Social Outreach Ministry member, and is a Shield of Faith School of Ministry graduate. His commitment to serve Christ, his fellow parishioners and youth is demonstrated by his long-time participation in the Big Brother Program, the Detroit Urban League Alternative School and the Oakland Circuit Court male responsibility and mentoring programs. Steve formerly served as a member of Kettering University’s Alumni Board of Directors and still remains on the President’s Council. While working at GM, he formerly served as Treasurer of the GM African Ancestry Network (GMAAN) and and Functional Recruiter Leader of the Wayne State University Relations Team until retirement. He continues to remain a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers where he has been since induction in 1971.

Steve has received the following Key Awards during his life time:

Ebenezer AME Church, Detroit Award for “Champions of Service-- Committed to the Community” Scholarship Program’ - 3013

Shield of Faith Ministries – Deacon of the Year Award, - 2008

GM and SAE “A World in Motion” Most Valuable Playe rAward - 2008

Runner Up, Black Engineer of the Year Award for CareerAchievement - 2006

African American Engineers Network Career AchievementAward – 1999

St. James Baptist Church Deacon Stewardship Award - 1999

Honorable Mention, Black Engineer of the Year Awardfor Career Achievement – 1999,

GMI Alumni Association Outstanding Alumni Service Award - 1995

GMI Alumni Association Detroit Chapter Service Award - 1989

GM Regional Silver Award for Excellence in Community Activities, Flint, MI -– 1977

GM Bronze Award for Excellence in Community Activities, AC Spark Plug Division - 1976

GM Award for Excellence in Community Activities, AC Spark Plug Division - 1975

Flint Urban League “Volunteer of the Year” Award – 1974

Steve currently resides in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan where his life is shared with his son, Damon, and adopted son Ramel. Steve is further blessed to have loving sisters Marilyn Hayes, Washington DC, Annette Johnson, Albany, New York, and Carolyn Walker, Pontiac, Michigan plus a brother-in-law, Knox Hayes. Steve alsoshares a great life with many nieces, nephews and cousins, a wonderful churchfamily and Pastor plus, of course, many friends and extended family. Above all,Steve rejoices in his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and lives by the motto, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5.