LSCO Staff Senate Honors Dr. Johnson with Proclamation and Presidential Gator
May 21, 2025
As part of the celebration marking the retirement of Dr. Thomas A. Johnson, the Lamar State College Orange Staff Senate issued a special proclamation in honor of his years of visionary leadership and unveiled a tribute unlike any other with the adoption of a live alligator named TJ.
The gator, now affectionately known as “TJ,” will reside at Gator Country in Beaumont, Texas, where he’ll receive the kind of five-star treatment befitting his namesake. With expert care and the right conditions, TJ could live up to 130 years ensuring Dr. Johnson’s legacy at LSCO is remembered for generations to come.
The tribute is especially fitting, as Dr. Johnson was instrumental in launching LSCO’s first official mascot and expanding Gator pride across the region. During his tenure, he led the college through record-setting enrollment, major campus expansion, and historic program growth all while championing the spirit and identity of the Gators.
With the proclamation and presidential gator now part of LSCO’s story, the Staff Senate has ensured that Dr. Johnson’s legacy is not only remembered, but it’s living and thriving.
