Roll Call Tribute

Cook-Walden Funeral Home obituary

6100 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78752 | 512-454-5611

Henry "Hank" Johnson

March 14, 1947 - November 21, 2014

Henry (Hank) Maurice Johnson Jr. died November 21st. He was born in Goose Creek Texas on March 14, 1947.Hank was a proud 2nd generation Texas A&M graduate class of 1969. After graduation he served in the U.S. Army stationed in Germany.

When he returned to the U.S. he went to work for Burroughs Corp and was extremely successful until he realized that there was no way he could conform to corporate life.

He then went on to start HBF Houston Business Forms. Initially he designed and printed business forms for numerous Houston banks and restaurants. He had the foresight and courage to completely change direction with his business when he saw the future demise of the printing business. Hank was approached by an associate to discuss an opportunity ---go in to business competing with AT&T. Hank thought it was crazy but he also saw the potential and more importantly, he saw a way that he could truly make a difference in the world. Hank was one of the first innovators in the initial phases of 911 software. His software today is used by major phone companies in both the United States and Canada.

After a few setbacks, a lot of work and many successes, Hank's business flourished. He was fortunate to sell HBF in 2008, and then he was really able to live his dream. He bought a sport fishing yacht and fished in every tournament in the Gulf of Mexico. He loved his boat, fishing with his friends and cruising the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

He also got to play golf and made some truly wonderful and close friends. This past April, he travelled to Scotland with a group of his friends and played all of the old courses. More importantly, he made it to Macallan to tour the distillery. Hank loved his Macallan.

Hank and his wife Diana also got to travel all over Europe and the South Pacific together. They were so lucky to be able to share some of the best times of their lives. 

Hank was an amazingly generous man who believed in the value of education. And to that end, he helped put his nieces, nephews and stepsons through college. 

Hank was bigger than Life. When he walked into a room, he filled it with his laughter, his wit and his whole being. He will be so terribly missed by his family and his friends, friends he has had from childhood, lifelong friends from A&M and his newer friends in Austin and Port Aransas.

Hank was preceded in death by his mother, his father, his son and his sister.

He is survived by his wife Diana, his son Matthew, his brothers Bob and Bill, his stepsons and their family, his grandchildren, Jacob, Emma, Kyleigh, Madison and Mikayla and his nieces and nephews, Katherine, Taylor, Bryan and Victoria.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 24, 2014 at 11:30 AM in the Morning in the Colonial Chapel of Cook Walden Funeral Home, 6100 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78752.

Condolences may be sent to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.