He writes under the name D. Wayne Johnson for serious material and Dick Johnson for brief material.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri. Married to Shirley. They have three children. Graduated from Washington University in St. Louis. Served with the Air Force and National Security Agency.

Editor and publisher of Pace and Coin Wholesaler. Published the Numismatic Directory in 1957. Employed as advertising manager for the Kansas City Kansan prior to joining the staff of Amos Press in 1959. Served as first editor for Coin World 1960 to May 1962. He was a founder of the Middle Atlantic Numismatic Association, past president of the St. Louis Numismatic Society, and a governor of the CSNS. Editor of MANA News in 1963. Sales promotion and research director with Medallic Art Company after March 15, 1967. Curator of Numismatic Art at the Museum in Closter, New Jersey. Company historian and senior consultant for Medallic Art Company after May 1, 2010.

Partner with Chris Jensen in Johnson & Jensen. They conducted 27 auction sales 1978-85. Co-founder of Signature Art Medals in 2008.

Author of Who’s Who Among American Medalists (2015).

Founding member of the Rittenhouse Society.