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Rose Johnson has been a friendly face among the Pride of All Nebraska for 47 years, supporting the Cornhusker Marching Band as the band office assistant. Not only that, Johnson is a homegrown Husker, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in education in 1978.
In her role, Johnson has kept the band marching forward — from organizing auditions and uniforms to planning travel for the band. But beyond the logistics, her work has always been about people: helping students find their place and carrying on the traditions that first shaped her own Husker experience.
Johnson took us on a trip down memory lane, exploring her experiences as a Husker in the 1970s.
What is your favorite memory from your time as a student?
I tried out for the volleyball team in 1973. They were in the NAIA then. Pat Sullivan was the coach and she held open tryouts. I made it to the last cut, but didn’t make the final cut. They decided not to take any freshmen because they couldn’t travel in the early 70s. I was very proud that I made it that far, considering I learned how to play volleyball from a photo workbook that my father bought for me.
Another memory is of the construction of the north annex to the Love Library that took place in the fall of 1973. There was a huge hole in the ground for the foundation/basement and it rained almost every weekday during September that year. The hole completely flooded. They finally had to pump the water out and drain it to the west along T Street. I was on the north side of T Street by the Stadium and needed to cross the street for a class in Richards Hall. Thankfully, a football player in my class carried me across the temporary river.
What brought you back to work at your alma mater?
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do and the job market wasn’t great in 1978. My brother had been a graduate assistant for Jack Snider, director of bands, and he heard that there was a job opening in the band office. My brother thought I would enjoy working with the band program and encouraged me to apply.
How has campus changed since you were a student?
There are many new buildings since my student days, especially the new residence halls. The Rec Center was added after I was a student. There was a tiny building just south of Sandoz Hall on Vine Street where students could rent sports equipment. The Lied Center is a great addition that was completed after my student days. There was a Taco Inn on that site, along with the bookstore, and Oscar’s Diner, which became Andy’s.
The whole downtown area is more beautiful and there are many more venues now, especially in the Haymarket area, which was full of abandoned warehouses when I was a student.
Was there a class, professor or experience that changed your path or shaped who you are today?
I wanted to be a visual art major, but my parents thought I needed a subject that would lead to more job prospects. We compromised at first by starting as an undeclared student. However, the art department offered a painting class for non-majors, so I enrolled. The instructor, Richard Trickey, thought I was good enough to be an art major and encouraged me to pursue that. He helped me complete the paperwork and encouraged my acceptance based on the work I did in his class. I have always appreciated his faith in me. He definitely went out of his way for me. He was also a very interesting and eccentric person and made the work fun.
What is one piece of advice you’d give a current Nebraska student?
Don’t procrastinate. I was a terrible procrastinator and often waited until the last minute to research and write a paper. Remember, the internet didn’t exist then, nor did personal computers. It took me forever to learn that I was putting unnecessary pressure on myself by waiting so long to just get started.
Also, get involved in something on campus outside of the classroom. It will help you meet other students so that you can make friends with similar interests. That will help you become a better student.
