Johnnie Marie Benson

1987 Inductee
Healthcare

Johnnie Benson of Fort Worth has devoted her career to ensuring quality care in Texas nursing homes. Noted by professional organizations as a pacesetter and innovator in the industry, Ms. Benson has owned and managed a variety of nursing homes and residential care centers. She was a moving force in the development and passage of legislation to create the Texas Board of Licensure for Nursing Home Administrators and served six years as a charter member of this board.

Ms. Benson received her bachelor of science degree from Texas Wesleyan College and attended St. Joseph School of Nursing, with graduate work at the University of Oklahoma. She served six terms as president of the Tarrant County Nursing Home Association and is a past vice president of the Texas Nursing Home Association. She served on the Texas State Board of Health and is a fellow of the American College of Nursing Home Administrators. Ms. Benson has also been the national chairman of the Residential Care Committee of the American Health Care Association. She was appointed to the first Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders. For her contributions to improving health care, she received the "1980" Better Life Award.