Johnson Products founder George E. Johnson Sr. dies at 99

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- George E. Johnson Sr., the pioneering entrepreneur behind Johnson Products Company (JPC), has died at the age of 99.

Johnson created iconic hair care products such as Afro Sheen and Ultra Sheen, which became staples in Black households and salons nationwide. His family described the products as "a source of pride throughout Black America."

Throughout his life and career, Johnson built a legacy of entrepreneurship, philanthropy, faith, and perseverance.

In 1954, Johnson and his late wife, Joan, founded Johnson Products Company on Chicago's South Side with a $250 loan. According to his family, he launched the business with "an unshakable belief that opportunity should exist for everyone."

The company gained national recognition as the first national sponsor of the television show Soul Train. In 1971, Johnson Products Company became the first Black-owned business to be listed and traded on the American Stock Exchange.

"George was a visionary business leader who built a hair care empire, broke barriers on Wall Street, and helped fuel the fight for civil rights," Johnson's family said in a statement.

Johnson died Monday at his home in Chicago. He was 99 years old.

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