George E. Johnson, pioneer of Black hair care products, dies at 99

CHICAGO — George E. Johnson, the trailblazing entrepreneur whose Johnson Products Company transformed the Black hair care industry, has died. He was 99.

His family confirmed in a statement he died Monday of natural causes at his Chicago home.

A Legacy That Reshaped Black Beauty and Business

Johnson founded Johnson Products in 1954 with a small loan, reported as $250 or $500 in various accounts, after working for Black‑owned cosmetics firm S.B. Fuller.

From a modest start on Chicago’s South Side, he built a multimillion‑dollar empire alongside his first wife Joan that created iconic products including Ultra Sheen, Afro Sheen, Ultra Wave, Classy Curl, and Curly Perm.

By 1971, Johnson Products became the first Black‑owned company traded on the American Stock Exchange. This milestone that cemented Johnson’s place in U.S. business history.

A Marketing Visionary Who Elevated Black Culture

Johnson pioneered advertising strategies that centered Black consumers at a time when mainstream companies ignored them.

He also became the first national sponsor of “Soul Train,” helping the show’s cultural reach while boosting his brand’s visibility.

His work extended beyond beauty: Johnson founded Independence Bank in 1964 and supported education, civil rights, and community organizations throughout his life.

From Sharecropper’s Shack to Industry Titan

Born in Richton, Mississippi, Johnson moved to Chicago as a child and worked a series of jobs, shining shoes, bussing tables, delivering papers, to help support his family.

He dropped out of high school to work full‑time and later joined S.B. Fuller, where he learned sales and product development before launching his own company.

His family described him as a visionary whose values were shaped by humility, determination, and the Golden Rule: “treating everyone the way he wished to be treated.”

Remembered as a Business Leader and Philanthropist

Johnson’s son, John Edward Johnson, said to the Chicago Sun-Times his father’s legacy “speaks for itself,” noting his impact as both a businessman and philanthropist.

His family praised his “extraordinary legacy of entrepreneurship, faith, perseverance, philanthropy, and family.”

“He truly believed business could be a force for good, creating opportunity, strengthening communities, opening doors for others, and demonstrating that success carries with it a responsibility to serve,” the family statement said.

Johnson is survived by his wife, Madeline Murphy Rabb, his children, grandchildren, and great‑grandchildren.