MY FRIENDS DR. DEXTER W. JOHNSON MD 2003 & HARWOOD “Bill” BANNISTER 2010
In February I reflect on two people who were important to me and died this month. Dr. Dexter Johnson was an internationally recognized radiologist born December 6, 1931 and died February 4, 2003. He graduated from the University of Washington medical school. He began as a general practice physician in Lynden plus residency time on the medical staff at the old State mental hospital in Sedro Woolley. He did a residency in radiology at Mayo's and practiced in Montana for several years until moving back to Seattle. We were close friends. We both had worked on purse seine fishing boats in Puget Sound and Alaska while going to college. He married a woman whose family I knew very well and who lived a block away from my family home in Anacortes. We enjoyed sports fishing and many of the same things. We remained close friends until his death. He was a compassionate, skilled and very bright physician as well as a good friend whom I miss.
Another person I am indebted to is Harwood (Bill) Alexander Bannister, who passed away at age 95 on February 9, 2010 in Burlington, Washington. Bill was my law partner for many years and my mentor who taught me not just about the law, but about the importance of being an ethical lawyer. He was a lawyer's lawyer, known for his high standards of ethics and brilliant mind. Bill, Stan Bruhn and I, along with Bill's wife, Nancy, were law partners for many years. I owe so much to him for my training and for his patience in tolerating a wild young trial lawyer. He was admired as well as respected by all who knew him. I'm proud to have been associated with Bill in the practice of law. For a complete obituary see: https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2010/02/harwood-bill-bannister-february-9-2010-1.html