In 1914 two Rhode Island women had a plan to open a business school. The women were Gertrude Johnson and Mary Wales, and their endeavor was the founding of Johnson & Wales University.

The story started when the young women were students at the Pennsylvania State Normal School in Millersville, Pennsylvania where they forged a friendship that lasted a lifetime.

Gertrude taught in public schools for a number of years before accepting a position in a bank, where she acquired a firm understanding of business practices that would prove useful in her future. Five years later, she decided to return to education and accepted a teaching position at Bryant and Stratton Business School in Providence. While there she renewed her friendship with Mary Wales, also teaching at Bryant.

With the world on the brink of war, the two friends decided to open their own business school in September 1914, in Gertrude’s home on Hope Street in Providence. Their first effort resulted in a one room office setting with one typewriter and one student. Years later the typewriter would be known as the “five pound secretary.”

The school soon attracted enough students to move to larger quarters on Olney Street before a further move to downtown Providence. As the school prospered Mary focused on teaching, while Gertrude applied the skills she acquired from her banking days to become the school’s administrator. The curriculum included the usual business studies: typing, shorthand and bookkeeping, as well as English and Mathematics.

In 1947, Gertrude and Mary sold the school to a former student’s husband, Edward Triangelo and his business partner, Morris Gaebe. After the sale, Gertrude and Mary retired to their home in Warwick. Mary died in 1952 and Gertrude in 1961.

Johnson and Wales turned 106 years old this year. Growing from a Junior College to a University, it now has four locations: Florida, North Carolina, Colorado and of course Rhode Island. The curriculum offers arts and sciences, business, culinary arts, engineering, health and wellness, media communications, travel and tourism.

I remember during my service in WWII a chief petty officer whose pet phrase was, “Make a plan and work your plan.” I’m sure Ms. Johnson and Ms. Wales can be considered believers in that statement. Of course the ladies “trailblazing” energy did not hurt either.