Johns receives Walter Gilbert Award from Auburn

Johns receives Walter Gilbert Award from Auburn    R. Kenneth Johns, chairman and chief executive officer of The Hampshire Management Group, received the 2006 Walter Gilbert Award at halftime during the Auburn University Tigers homecoming game against Tulane on Saturday.
   The award is presented to Auburn athletic alumni, who distinguish themselves in their careers after graduation. The award is given in memory of the Tigers’ three-time all-American center Walter Gilbert, who later became vice president of Texaco’s European Oil Operations.
   Johns, a Mobile native and lineman for the Tigers from 1953-56, played under head coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan and his teammates included Vince Dooley, Dave Middleton, Morris Savage and Lloyd Nix (all past Walter Gilbert Award recipients).
   After graduation from Auburn in 1957, Johns joined newly formed Sea-Land Service, then headquartered in Mobile. During his career at the U.S.-flag liner carrier, Johns held various senior management positions, ultimately rising to become its president and CEO in 1979, a position he held until his retirement in 1987.
   Johns was inducted into the International Maritime Hall of Fame in 2001, and is still involved in numerous philanthropic and maritime activities.