Oscar Johnson

Freelance article written for ADAMM (Automobile Dealers Association of Metro Milwaukee)

Oscar Johnson has the ideal personality for a successful car salesperson.

“I love sales. I love just dealing direct with people. That’s my love…is people.” 

Johnson, who is 77, has been selling Chevrolets for 50 years as of Jan. 17. He has been with ANDREW Chevrolet for most of that time, starting at the dealership in 1979. 

As a pioneering African American in auto sales, he faced challenges and hateful comments in his early years, he recalls. “It was very challenging. I did face some difficulties at times, but my wife would console me at night because of the things I had to deal with. She suggested I fight it out. There were days when it was hard. I’d come home ready to quit, but my wife always encouraged me.” Johnson and his wife, Jimmie Ruth, have been married for more than 50 years and have two sons. 

He persevered, however, and has built a successful career.  “I deal a lot in the Christian arena. A lot of the churches, the pastors refer their congregation members to me. 

“I have a lot of clients who are in their 90s who are still buying cars.  I don’t do now what I once did because I’ve pulled back a lot.  Age makes a difference.”   Over the years, he says, after checking his records, he has sold “somewhere around” 13,000 Chevrolets.

“I just saw the level of people that were selling and I thought that I could do a little better than some of the guys that I saw. I was determined to make a difference.”

He’s driven many models as company cars, but if pressed for a favorite Chevy, he would choose one. “My real love is the Chevrolet Impala. I believe it’s one of the finest cars that a person could ever own. I still enjoy selling that car because it’s a family car. “

He’s enjoyed working at Andrew Chevrolet all these years. “I loved it. I came to Andrew’s dad, Mel Schlesinger, who was a gentleman and a scholar. Andy Schlesinger, who is president and CEO of the Andrew Automotive group, was instrumental in encouraging Johnson to stay when he considered retirement a couple years ago. “I thought when I was 75, I might retire, but he asked me to stay on.” 

Johnson works flexible hours, now, and is popular with both his clients and his co-workers. 

“He is such a nice man, such a humble man,” says Andrew sales manager Julie Johnson.  “And he’s very well-respected in the community.”
When he is not at Andrew, Johnson is active in his church, heading up the men’s ministry. He and his wife, who’ve been married 54 years, also work with couples at the church.  She is retired from Milwaukee Public Schools after 37 years. 

 He is a founding member of  New Testament Church.  They have two sons. One followed him in the auto business as a manager; the other is a senior vice president for BMO bank.