George E. Johnson, founder of Johnson Products Company, has passed away at the age of 99. He died in his Chicago condo due to a respiratory illness.

Johnson's company was known for manufacturing hair care products for Black consumers, a market that was largely overlooked by other companies at the time. Johnson started his company in 1954 with a $250 loan and went on to create popular brands such as Afro Sheen and Ultra Wave. He was born in Mississippi in 1927 and moved to Chicago with his mother at a young age.

Further details about Johnson's life and legacy are available from media reports, including an interview with his son and information from The New York Times and Chicago Sun-Times.