Dwight with his wife, Patricia, at the Rita the Rock Digger Troll in Victor, Colorado
Four generations of Rotary, 30 years of membership and a lifelong commitment to Service Above Self.
For some, Rotary is an organization they discover along life's journey. For Dwight L. Johnson Jr., Assistant Governor for Area 2 in District 5470, Rotary has been part of his life from the very beginning.
A fourth-generation Rotarian, Dwight traces his family's Rotary roots to 1911, when his great-grandfather, David Dwight Sturgeon, helped establish the Rotary Club of Denver, Club 31. More than a century later, that family legacy continues to shape Dwight's commitment to service, leadership and community.
“Why do I do Rotary? It's in my blood,” Dwight says. “It's been taught to me since I was brought up in a Rotary house.”
He recalls growing up with the understanding that everyone eventually has an opportunity, and a responsibility, to give back to their community through their time, talents and treasure.
“I was very blessed and lucky that I was in a family of Rotarians,” he says.
A Lifetime of Rotary, 30 Years as a Member
Dwight officially joined Rotary in 1996 as a member of the Rotary Club of Victorville, California, in District 5300. He spent 26 years with that club before relocating to Colorado Springs, where he has been a member of the Downtown Colorado Springs Rotary Club for the past four years.
His Rotary leadership experience spans two districts. He served as Assistant District Governor for Group 9 in Southern California from 2018 to 2021 and currently serves as Assistant Governor for Area 2 in District 5470, a position he began in 2025 and expects to continue through 2028.
Although the two districts have different characteristics, Dwight has found that their members share a common purpose.
“Each district has its own characteristics, same with the individual clubs, but we have all come forward to serve, to share our time, talents and treasure,” he explains. “We have the same common goals, the same end game, maybe just different paths to get to it.”
Building Bridges Between Clubs and the District
As an Assistant Governor, Dwight sees his role as much more than a connection between club presidents and district leadership. He wants to be a trusted adviser, a resource and an advocate for the clubs he serves.
He regularly communicates with club presidents in person, by phone and through email, checking on their progress, offering guidance and helping them navigate challenges.
“I would like to think that I would be a direct adviser for them, a direct outside counselor,” he says, describing himself as an extended member of each club who is available to answer questions, help rally support for projects or connect clubs with district resources.
That assistance can take many forms, from promoting an upcoming fundraiser to addressing membership challenges or helping a club experiencing serious difficulties.
Dwight also encourages club presidents to build relationships with one another, share ideas, attend each other's meetings and collaborate on events.
He believes that those relationships make Rotary stronger, particularly when experienced members and past presidents reach beyond their individual clubs to become involved in the broader district.
For Dwight, communication is essential. When information or understanding breaks down between a club and district leadership, he sees the Assistant Governor as someone who can help bridge that gap.
His message to club leaders is simple: Reach out whenever you need assistance. You don't have to navigate challenges alone.
A Worldwide Organization With a Common Purpose
After three decades of membership, Dwight finds it difficult to identify just one favorite Rotary experience.
There have been meaningful projects at the local, district, regional and international levels, along with countless friendships and opportunities to work with dedicated leaders.
He recognizes fellow Rotarians who have influenced his journey, including John Chase, Raghada Koury, Margaret Cooker, Trevor Dierdorff, Steve Murray, Michael Coplan and Maile Foster.
Each club, he notes, has its own culture, traditions and approach to service. Yet the underlying mission remains remarkably consistent.
“Rotary to me personally is an organization, a worldwide organization, that gives back to its community whether it be on the local level, the regional level, or the international level,” he says.
One issue that particularly concerns Dwight is the challenge of attracting and retaining Rotary members in North America.
He wonders why membership has declined in North America while Rotary continues to grow in other parts of the world, particularly given the innovative projects and enthusiastic members he encounters.
“We really need to dig deep down and find out what are we missing in our message,” he says.
For Dwight, the answer begins with communicating Rotary's relevance and demonstrating that its opportunities for friendship, leadership and service are just as meaningful today as they were when Rotary began in 1905.
Passing the Rotary Torch
With four generations of family history behind him, Dwight hopes that one of his children will eventually carry the Rotary tradition into a fifth generation.
But his hope extends beyond his own family. He wants future generations to recognize the value of service and understand that Rotary offers a place to make a lasting difference.
He encourages Rotarians considering district leadership to prepare themselves, gain experience and approach the responsibility with genuine commitment.
District leaders, he believes, must have the passion to build upon the work of those who came before them and the determination to ensure Rotary remains relevant for generations to come.
He describes Rotary as an organization that belongs in a future built on compassion, understanding and people willing to help others.
For Dwight, serving as Assistant Governor is another opportunity to give back to an organization that has helped shape his life.
“It's been totally rewarding to be a part of Rotary for 30 years officially and all my life as a fourth-generation Colorado Rotarian,” he says.
Beyond Rotary
Outside of Rotary, Dwight spent 40 years working in the media industry. He is currently taking time away from his career to attend to family business matters, including his father's estate and trust.
He and his wife will celebrate their 39th wedding anniversary on December 19. They enjoy traveling, spending time with their three adult children and two granddaughters, and gathering with friends and family for barbecues.
Dwight is also an enthusiastic collector of shot glasses from around the world, MAD magazines, baseball cards and rare bottles of whiskey, bourbon and other spirits.
A Colorado sports fan, he cheers for the Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche. He also enjoys involvement with the Chamber of Commerce and other opportunities to support his community.
A Legacy of Service That Continues
From his great-grandfather's role in establishing the Denver Rotary Club in 1911 to his own service as an Assistant Governor more than a century later, Dwight's story illustrates how Rotary's values can transcend generations.
His dedication to helping clubs succeed, strengthening communication and encouraging future leaders reflects a belief that service is not simply something we do. It is something we pass along.
And after a lifetime surrounded by Rotary, Dwight remains committed to giving his time, talents and treasure to an organization he believes will continue making a difference long into the future.
Dwight Johnson is ready to help, connect and serve the Rotarians of Area 2, which includes the Broadmoor District, East Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods and Rampart Range Rotary clubs.
That's what being an Assistant Governor means to him, and what being a Rotarian has meant to his family for four generations.
A picture of Dwight with his brothers and dad (60 years in Rotary) in '24 in Kansas City for his induction into the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) Hall of Fame.
Dwight with Hall of Fame Linebacker Randy Gradishar from the Broncos in '24.
Dwight with John Chase Zone 26 rep from PETs in March 25.
Dwight with his Sons in SoCal last March.
Dwight at Casa Bonita in '25.