Earl started calling in the early 1950's while still in High School in Rockville, Connecticut. Along with Al Brundage, Earl started the Connecticut Callers Association and conducted caller schools and clinics in several states throughout the nation. Earl was instrumental in the formation of NECCA, the New England Council of Callers Association, and served as the first chairman of this organization. Earl was inducted into the Sets in Order American Square Dance Society Hall of Fame in 1970. He was a charter member of CALLERLAB and has served on its Board of Governors. CALLERLAB recognized his contributions to our activity by awarding Earl their most prestigious Milestone Award in 1993. Earl and Marion were inducted into the Square Dance Foundation of New England's Hall of Fame in 1995. Earl recorded on the Grenn record label, wrote articles for various publications and published a very successful caller note service. Earl retired from calling in 1992 and moved from Connecticut to Florida.

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SIO's Article: The day of the square dance "specialist" may well be at hand, but still there are those who have reached the peaks in square dance calling who feel that a caller's versatility is one of his strongest assets. Our Cover Caller this month, Earl Johnston, Vernon, Connecticut, is an outstanding example of a triple threat man in the field of square dance leadership. His home club and class program comes first, and for the greatest part of the year you'll find Earl and his wife, Marion completely involved in their several clubs, in classes, and in the activities of their area callers and teachers association. Then, when the summer rolls around, the Johnstons move into phase two — travel calling. For many years the Johnston touch has insured delightfully successful dances across the United States, into Canada, Germany, England, France, etc. Phase three as Earl might describe it is the "frosting on the cake." The extras, such as making outstanding records on Grenn label. To say the least, when all three phases are coupled together they add up to an exceptionally busy existence. Putting back into square dancing a share of what he has derived, Earl spends much of his time in training new callers and assisting with the improvement program of others. Large numbers of aspiring callers attend his yearly sessions in the East, and these past few years his training ability has been felt as far as the West Coast. Because of the inspiration he has passed on to other callers, because of the unselfish time and efforts he has devoted to the dancer and caller activities in his home area, and because of his more than 20 years of activity in square dancing, the Sets in Order American Square Dance Society takes pride in welcoming him to the Square Dance Hall of Fame and adds the Gene Anthony portrait shown on the cover to the gallery of square dance "stars."