Roger Johnson was born in 1954 to Frank Johnson, a local businessman, realtor, and banker, and Barbara (Neill) Johnson of the Neill family. A fifth-generation Pullman native and the youngest of four children, Roger grew up deeply rooted in the community he would spend his life serving. He graduated from Pullman High School in 1973.

Roger excelled academically and was accepted to Yale based on his SAT scores, an essay competition, and a recommendation from his uncle, Marshall Neill, a Washington State Supreme Court Justice. But Roger was never one to follow the path others expected. Rather than heading east, he chose to hitchhike across America. That journey gave him perspective and ultimately confirmed what he would believe for the rest of his life: that Pullman and the greater Palouse were among the finest places in the world to call home.

In the summer of 1976, Roger traveled to Fairbanks, Alaska, with the love of his life, Lei Ann Frank. They were married there and remained devoted to one another for 49 years, together until the very moment of Roger’s passing.

After their time in Alaska, Roger and Lei Ann moved to Bellingham, where Roger enrolled at Western Washington University to study art. When state budget cuts eliminated his program, they returned to Pullman without knowing exactly what the future would hold.

Back home, Roger worked in real estate, electrical work, and construction before his father repeatedly encouraged him to look at a struggling downtown bar called Rico’s. At first he resisted. When he finally agreed to see it, he found a building in rough shape, with pots and pans scattered across the floor catching rainwater from the leaking roof and even a urinal torn from the wall after what locals claimed had been a test of strength.

Seeing both the tremendous challenges and the incredible potential, Roger decided to move forward. Without the money for a down payment, he assumed one owner’s debt and partnered with the other. In 1988, he purchased the remaining share and became sole owner of Rico’s, a place he would lovingly operate for the next 36 years.

Roger built far more than a successful business. He built a home away from home for generations of people. A place where friendships were formed, celebrations were shared, music filled the room, and everyone had a seat at the table. His legacy lives on not only in the walls of Rico’s, but in the thousands of lives he touched simply by making people feel like they belonged.

Roger is survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Lei Ann; his son, Ian Johnson and his wife, Erin Mae Clark; his daughter, Tawny Szumlas (Johnson) and her husband, Michael Higgins; and his three treasured grandchildren, Chase, Liam, and Lillian.

A celebration of life will be held at 4:00pm on Thursday, August 20th, 2026 at Rico's Pub in Pullman, WA, followed by Roger's dedication into Pullman's Walk of Fame.