Donor Spotlight: Robert Johnson’s Legacy Gift That Struck Oil for NewView Oklahoma—WITHOUT DOLLAR AMOUNTS

When Bob Johnson first met staff from what is now NewView Oklahoma, he was a young carpenter working in downtown Oklahoma City in the early 1970s. “Employees and clients were out early every morning with their guide dogs,” he recalled. “We’d talk through the fence before our shifts started. That’s how I got to know them — and I’ve followed NewView ever since.”

Through the years, Bob stayed connected — volunteering for small repairs at NewView’s Douglas plant and helping out at the organization’s low-vision clinic. His admiration for NewView’s mission and people never faded.

Decades later, Bob made a remarkable decision. After his mother passed away, he donated 25 acres of mineral rights from his family’s Middleberg farm to NewView. Those rights had sat idle for nearly 60 years — until, not long after his gift, Continental Resources began drilling. The first year’s royalties provided an unexpected windfall, and over the following years, NewView continued to receive additional income as oil prices fluctuated.

Eventually, NewView was offered an opportunity to sell the mineral rights for a significant sum — a transformational gift that arrived just as the organization was remodeling its headquarters on Classen Boulevard.

“It turned out to be a good deal for NewView,” Bob said humbly. “I’m just glad it helped.”

Even now, Bob continues to make plans that reflect his giving spirit. Through his trust, his home and even his beloved 1977 Ford pickup will one day benefit NewView.

From chatting with guide-dog trainers behind a construction fence to decades later leaving a legacy that supports independence for Oklahomans with vision loss, Bob Johnson’s story is one of generosity, connection, and purpose.

If you, like Bob, would be interested in learning more about planned giving opportunities and ways to get started, please go to visit this link or click on the QR code.