The school was named for former Huntsville educator James Oliver Johnson, who served as a Brigadier General in the United States Army.

Johnson commanded one of the first all black combat battalion in WW II, leading to the integration and racial diversity of the US Army.

Johnson led men who constructed airplane infrastructure on the ground in North Africa and Mediterranean region, for Army Air Forces including the Tuskegee Airmen.

Black and White Students had no strife, and became the model High School throughout the state shortly after the Civil Rights era.

The road leading to the campus, Cecil Fain Drive, was named after another long term educator.