No Small Dreams: J. Erik Jonsson--Texas Visionary

John Erik Jonsson, the only child of hard-working Swedish immigrants, latched on early to the American dream of success. Defying his father's old world notion that he take over the family's small cigar shop, he became a visionary industrialist who led unknown Texas Instruments to the top of the electronics revolution that transformed American life. Then, following the assassination of President Kennedy in his adopted city of Dallas, he guided the city in its darkest hour, becoming the greatest mayor in its history. When he enrolled as a freshman in 1918 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Jonsson struggled to make up academic deficiencies while holding part-time jobs. He graduated on time, and then began his remarkable journey to the National Business Hall of Fame. As a wealthy industrialist, knowing full well that education had provided his entry point, he promoted the value of learning, especially the sciences and engineering, and he backed up his convictions with his philanthropy. Many institutions benefited immensely from his gifts. Eleven of them honored him with honorary doctorates. As important as his philanthropy was, John Erik Jonsson is best remembered for more visible achievements elsewhere, especially at Texas Instruments. His leadership there led to his election as one of only four living Americans to the first class of the National Business Hall of Fame. Such an irony that Dallas, this proud Texas city then noted for its insularity, looked to a Brooklyn native to lead it from its despair after the assassination of President Kennedy. In his seven years as mayor Jonsson left an enduring legacy: an architectural gem in its marvelous new city hall, an airport that became one of the world s biggest and busiest, a Goals for Dallas program that involved citizens of all walks of life, a new central library, a coveted designation as an All-American City, and a new self-esteem for the city. Leadership came naturally. His tall frame, deep voice, easy manner, and commanding presence reinforced the fact. After being the guiding force in Texas Instruments transformation from an oil-exploration company into a world-wide modern electronics firm, civic responsibilities dominated his schedule. His pattern of leadership was consistent. He envisioned long-term goals, carefully recruited those who could carry them out, convinced them of the worth of their assignment, and monitored their progress regularly. In a large sense, he was an educator with a huge classroom. Through his Goals for Dallas program he enlisted thousands of ordinary residents to define what they wanted Dallas to be. He played the dominant role in building D/FW International Airport, then the world s biggest airport, the dominant catalyst for the entire region s development. Against significant opposition, he led the drive for a new and dramatic city hall recognized as one of the nation s most significant public buildings. Municipal politics in Dallas was non-partisan, a fact which Jonsson carefully observed. However, he was a life-long Republican, cut from the traditional GOP cloth of the day. Always a pragmatist, he was a champion of reason and scientific inquiry, especially committed to research in all things. Jonsson s long-time marriage to Margaret Fonde, his Tennessee belle, produced three children who became accomplished adults in their own rights. By his own acknowledgment, though, his family life took a back seat to his many business and civic obligations. Although he had told his long-suffering wife that he would retire early so they could travel the world and enjoy the comforts that hard work made possible, that moment never came. It is impossible to truly calculate the impact of an individual like J. Erik Jonsson. The ripple effects of his work and philanthropy go on and on and on from the technology of the information age