Crawford Toy Johnson founded The Birmingham Coca-Cola Bottling Company and contributed to the growth of Birmingham as a businessman, civic leader, and humanitarian.
Johnson attended Ole Miss and earned a Bachelor of Philosophy. In 1897, he married Caroline Acree. Through his friendship with a former classmate at Ole Miss, Johnson learned about the possibility of acquiring The Birmingham Coca-Cola franchise. Asa Candler of Atlanta, owner of The Coca-Cola Company, agreed to the deal, and Johnson jumped at the chance to acquire the Birmingham franchise. In 1902, Johnson founded The Birmingham Coca-Cola Bottling Company with only one employee. Under Johnson’s leadership, the company expanded production. The company evolved from bottling 30 cases per hour to more than 300 by the 1920s. One of Johnson’s innovations, a new red metal vending machine that replaced the old barrel and tub coolers, kept his product in the public’s eye and contributed to the company’s survival of the Great Depression. Johnson emerged as one of the nation’s most respected soft drink bottlers. As a leader in organizing the Coca-Cola Bottler’s Association, he became its first president. As a civic leader, Johnson served as president of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce; president of the Jefferson County Community Chest; and president of the Better Business Bureau. Johnson was also instrumental in founding Children’s Hospital. Johnson was an educational benefactor serving on the state board of education and supporting numerous colleges and universities throughout the state.
