William ‘Wild Bill’ Johnson: Pioneering HD Dealer
Friends described him as a genuine motorcyclist in every fiber of his being.
Wild Bill
William B. Johnson was born in 1890 — right at the dawn of motorcycling. A respected mechanic and successful hill climb racer, fans nicknamed him ‘Wild Bill,’ but friends and customers at his Harley-Davidson dealership in Somers, New York, knew him as Willie. Even though he rode until he was eighty-two, there is only one known picture of him aboard a motorcycle — his 1929 Harley-Davidson JD.
Commemorated Legacy
Never content on the sidelines, Johnson holds a unique position in motorcycling history. He became the first African-American to receive an American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) membership and race license. He also became the first African-American to open a Harley-Davidson dealership. His pioneering legacy is commemorated at the Harley-Davidson Museum, and with the Somers Historical Society — housed in the former Elephant Hotel.
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Somers Hill
Johnson proved himself a natural talent at hill climb racing and ranked among the top climbers. The sport was not without challenges. At the time, the AMA prohibited non-white competitors in sanctioned races. Johnson's breakthrough came when the AMA attempted to lease a piece of property called Somers Hill, as a site for competitions. Johnson brokered the deal but the owner stipulated that he be allowed to race.
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Converted Shop
When William and his wife Anna purchased their home in West Chester County, it came with a blacksmith shop. Johnson converted the shop into a motorcycle service garage and soon gained a reputation as a skilled mechanic. During the mid-1920s, he opened Johnson's Harley-Davidson in the converted garage. The dealership closed in 1977, but the service side remained open until Johnson's death in 1985.
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Diplomatic Work
Johnson was a man of good character, but he was also a fighter. In 1969, his dealership came under strain when Pat Cramer was granted a dealership only five miles away. Many considered this a racially motivated attempt to force Johnson out of business. Through negotiations with Cramer and Harley-Davidson, the issue was resolved. Ever the diplomat, Johnson befriended Cramer and they began to work together.
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Lost Friend
Piet Boonstra, Johnson’s friend, kindly related that he “loved motorcycles and loved people. He was a genuine motorcyclist in every fiber of his being.” In 1985, at the age of ninety-five, William B. Johnson died quietly at his shop. For years following, riders continued to drop by the shop to inquire about him. With every pronouncement of his death, the reaction was as if they had lost a friend.
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Sanctioned Events
A fictionalized version of 'Wild Bill' Johnson played by actor Stephen Rider aired in the Harley and the Davidsons miniseries. The character was an amalgamation of Johnson and a flat track racer named Leroy 'Buster' Payne. Until the mid-1950s black riders were almost all 'outlaws,' racing only in non-AMA sanctioned events. In 1952, Payne broke through the imposed racial barriers in AMA Grand National Flat Track and Road Racing.
>>Join the conversation about William Johnson right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
Racing Artifacts
Inside the lobby of the former Elephant Hotel is a display case with artifacts from Johnson’s racing days — his goggles, leather helmet, and leg gaiters. Next to his racing suit is a sign from his dealership that reads, “W.B. Johnson Proprietor.” The artifacts are small testaments to an industrious man who lived life to its fullest, and someone who had a deep appreciation for Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
>>Join the conversation about William Johnson right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
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