Lamar VP Lives in RV

Lamar VP Lives in RV
Jennifer Heathcock
May 23, 2007 - 7:41PM


The drive to and from work can be stressful for many of us, but a Lamar University administrator has found an alternative to the hassle of dealing with rush hour traffic--he's a V-P who lives in an R-V.

It's not your typical RV park.
Dr. Barry Johnson parked and set up 7 years ago, on campus.
"I want to be here close by and be accessible."
Living in an RV at Lamar serves a larger purpose for Dr. Johnson. He wants to be closer to the student body.

"I do this voluntarily. I don't have to live on campus, it's not part of my job description."

But most don't know who lives in the RV.
Johnson wants to be at Lamar if there's an emergency.
"I heard sirens, looked out and saw the flames."

And he was on campus when a residence hall under construction caught fire. The VP wants to be able to deflect the heat from Lamar University President Dr. Jimmy Simmons.

"Don't want him to walk out in the morning, at 6 o'clock in the morning, see the newspaper and the media's on his front steps and he doesn't know what's going on."
Even the students agree it's a good idea.

"Yeah, I think it's an advantage because it makes us feel like he's one of us."
They say Dr. Johnson fits in with the students and better understands them.
Being in touch with the student body is his job, full time.
Even when he's at home.
Dr. Johnson and his wife have a home in Wildwood, North of Beaumont, and often drive the RV back home.


http://www.kfdm.com/news/lamar_20561___article.html/johnson_don.html