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Dr. Ellis L. Johnson, esteemed Professor Emeritus at the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) and distinguished mathematician, passed away at his residence, on the 20th of February 2024. 

Born on July 26, 1938, to Glenn Irvin and Edna Volberg Johnson, Dr. Johnson was raised on a farm near Athens, Georgia. He embarked on his academic journey at Georgia Tech, earning a B.S. in Applied Mathematics in 1960, and later, a Ph.D. in Operations Research from the University of California at Berkeley in 1965, under the tutelage of George Dantzig, a luminary in the field. 

He began his professional teaching career in ISyE at Georgia Tech in 1995. Working alongside Professor George Nemhauser, he co-established and co-directed the university’s Logistics Engineering Center, which would form what is now the Supply Chain and Logistics Institute.  

He was also instrumental in the creation and early development of the elite Algorithms, Combinatorics and Optimization PhD program.   

Dr. Johnson, a distinguished figure in research and optimization, has been honored with several prestigious accolades, highlighting his exceptional contributions to the field.  

Notably, he received: 

• 1981, The Alexander Von Humboldt Senior Scientist Award, at the University of Bonn, Germany 

• 1983, The Frederick W. Lanchester Prize, with publication in the journal, Operations Research 

• 1985, The George B. Dantzig Prize, a triennial award for original research in mathematical optimization 

• 1988, Elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) 

• 2000, The John von Neumann Theory Prize, acknowledging his foundational work in integer programming and combinatorial optimization 

• 2002, The Daniel H. Wagner Prize for Excellence in Operations Research Practice 

• 2002, Name as a Fellow of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) 

His achievements have more than solidified his status as a visionary and trailblazer in the realm of optimization research.  

George Nemhauser, Institute Professor Emeritus in ISyE, reflected on Johnson’s profound influence on the industry, remarking, “Ellis Johnson was a world-renowned figure in the field of operations research and optimization... he was largely noted for his work with Ralph Gomory, on integer programming; and while at Tech, Ellis was a devoted advisor to many PhD students and a great colleague.” 

His legacy endures through his family, including his wife Crystal, their children, and grandchildren, and through his profound impact on operations research and industrial engineering. 

A commemorative service to honor his memory is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., taking place at the Sugar Creek Chapel within Hundred Acre Farm. This will be followed by a reception at the Red Barn. 

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Author: Atharva Anand Dave