Glyne Johnson

Elected 1946

Glyne Johnson was another native Modoc’er, born in Adin in 1893. His father owned and operated the Johnson Mill between Hayden and Ash Valley. After Glyne Johnson graduated from Wilson Preparatory School in Adin, he earned a teaching credential. He served in both world wars.

He married Lois Harbert in 1921, and they had two sons. Glyne and his wife were talented musicians and they played in a local band for several years. Before he was elected sheriff, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service for a time. Most of his life he lived in Adin. He met with an untimely, accidental death three years into his term as sheriff. In the course of an ordinary day, Johnson was getting an automatic shotgun out of the back seat of his car. While pulling the gun out, it discharged and the whole force of the blast struck him in the neck. He was killed instantly.

He was much respected, and his death in office was considered not only a great loss to his friends and family but to the community as well.