OBIT: Harry Lang JOHNSTON, 1948, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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DIES UNEXPECTEDLY
HARRY L. JOHNSTON [photo]
H. L. JOHNSTON, MIRROR EDITOR, PASSES AWAY
Religious, Business and Civic Leader Is Stricken Fatally At His Home.

  Harry Lang Johnston, aged 75, editor-in-chief of the Altoona Mirror 
and for 40 years managing editor of the newspaper; Spanish-American war 
veteran and a leader in the religious, business and civic life of the 
community, died unexpectedly Saturday afternoon at 4.15 o'clock at his 
home, 3508 Oneida avenue.
  He became ill early Saturday morning and, although his condition 
seemed to improve during the day, he failed to rally from an afternoon 
relapse.  He was active in newspaper work until the time of his death, 
having prepared editorial notes Friday night at his home before 
retiring, as had been his custom for many years.
  Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2.30 o'clock 
at the Lafferty funeral home in charge of Rev. Dr. Edward D. Simpson, 
assistant pastor of the First Baptist church, assisted by Rev. P. E. 
Mundy, pastor of the Bell Avenue Baptist church.  Interment will be 
made in Alto-Reste park.  Friends will be received at the Lafferty 
funeral home from 2 to 4 o'clock this afternoon and from 7 to 9 o'clock 
this evening.

Honored by Mirror.

  Mr. Johnston, whom the board of directors of the Altoona Mirror 
honored June 17 by naming him editor-in-chief in recognition of his 50 
years with the newspaper, was born April 1, 1873, in Hollidaysburg, a 
son of William and Laura (Lang) Johnston.
  He was married May 4, 1899, in Altoona to Miss Annie Cherry Bunker, 
who survives with two daughters, Mrs. Helen Hammitt, wife of J. Lewis 
Hammitt, jr., of McKeesport, Pa., and Mrs. Margaret J. Sheldon, at 
home; one grandson, Jackson Lewis Hammitt, Ill., and a sister, Miss 
Mary K. Johnston of Hollidaysburg.
  Mr. Johnston's newspaper career, which was to earn state and national 
prominence, began before he was 18 years old in the plant of the 
Hollidaysburg Democratic-Standard where he was employed to learn the 
printing trade after attending public schools.

Takes Altoona Position.

  He became a printer and compositor at Hollidaysburg and in 1892 
entered the employ of the Altoona Times as a printer, typesetter and 
compositor.  Within a short time Mr. Johnston added reporting to his 
duties and his natural flair for presenting factual news won promotion 
to city editor of The Times.
  Mr. Johnston transferred his journalistic services to the Altoona 
Mirror June 11, 1899, when he was employed as a reporter to begin an 
association broken only by his untimely death.
  He was named city editor of The Mirror in June, 1906, and two years 
later, or in 1908, was advanced to the post of managing editor.  Oddly 
enough, all of his Mirror advancements were June events, corresponding 
to the anniversary of The Mirror, which was first published June 13, 
1874.  He served as a member of the board of directors of the Mirror 
Printing company for many years.

Devoted Full Time.

  During his entire career with The Mirror, Mr. Johnston, who formed a 
practice early of devoting full time to his chosen profession, took no 
vacations other than attending conventions of the American and 
Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers' associations.
  The dean of Blair county and central Pennsylvania newspapermen, Mr. 
Johnston combined his extensive knowledge, experience and background to 
prepare a factual chapter on newspapers for the history of Blair county 
which was compiled in 1946 as a feature of the county's centennial 
celebration.  And it was he who suggested erection of the memorial to 
John Blair, founder of Blair county.
  Another high point in an outstanding career as editor was attained in 
1947 when Mr. Johnston received a National Headliners club award for 
his efforts through the Altoona Mirror to raise $35,000 for the 
establishment of a cancer clinic in Blair county.  He served as 
campaign chairman for the Blair County branch of the American Cancer 
society.
  In addition to his active personal direction of The Mirror editorial 
department, and his preparation of pungent and powerful editorials on 
many and varied timely topics of local, state and national interest, 
Mr. Johnston wrote the "Mirrorgrms" which for many . . . .

JOHNSTON - Funeral services for Harry Lang Johnston of 3508 Oneida 
avenue, Allegheny Furnace, will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2.30 
o'clock at the John P. Lafferty funeral home in charge of Rev. Edward 
D. Simpson and Rev. P. E. Mundy. Interment in Alto-Reste park.  Friends 
may call at the John P. Lafferty funeral home between 2 and 4 o'clock 
this afternoon and 7 and 9 o'clock this evening.

Altoona Mirror, July 19, 1948