James W. and Kathryn "Kak" Johnson

James W. Johnson founded Rex Plastics in Thomasville in a service station building in 1959. By the time he retired in 1987, the company was listed among the top 100 privately owned companies in North Carolina.

After retiring to Pinehurst, he became very active with The Healing Garden, Road to Recovery and Phi Beta Kappa. In his spare time he enjoyed traveling, gardening, baking chocolate chip cookies with his grandchildren and playing gin rummy with family and friends. He also enjoyed his luck at the blackjack table.

His home was legendary for its Christmas decorations each year and was showcased in several newspapers, magazines and books. He was equally legendary as a gentleman and enjoyed entertaining family from far and near.

The James W. Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 2016 by his loving wife “Kak” and his two daughters.