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I am working on getting my dad to do an "interview" and perhaps my Granny too depending on how she's feeling.  I wish I would've asked Grandad more questions, but when you are young you don't realize the importance.  Be patient with me on posting, I have to gather info and scan some also. 

Yes, Grandad did work with the Lynch sisters, however I don't know a lot of stories.  I do know that he lived for a while in Preachin' Bills cabin and was around the cave from the time as a little boy.  The Herschends have been just great and are still in contact with my Granny Johnson.  She is 92 and loves Jack and Pete.  My Dad also talks about how good they were to his dad.  I met them at Grandad's funeral and they told us what an integral part of the cave he was.  My Dad has told us how they put the sidewalks in the cave and also about the accident with the train coming up out and then falling back to the bottom.  Just as a side note, Ron Martin was my high school science teacher in 1983-84 at Hillcrest High School in Springfield.  He brought in his book that was just printed with the yellow cover.  I was looking through the book and found the photos of my grandpa and told him that Rex was my grandpa and he was so excited.  I don't think until then I realized the history behind Grandad and his part in the "city".  I am still trying to think of details and hope to share more. I think I have a flickr account that I will try to use to post a couple other photos.  Thanks for your interest. 

Here's a couple of photos, one of my dad Jimmie Rex Johnson and Billy Joe Johnson sons of Rex Johnson.  They were playing in the cave.  I would say my dad was around 10 or so, which would make this photo in the early fifties.  Grandad was connected with the cave even when he was a boy.  He helped guide S. Fred Prince around while looking for wildflowers.  He was very young at that time and in some accounts was referred to a "a barefoot boy".  The other two photos are Grandad waiting to take tours through the cave.  At the time he left in 1975 or 76, he held the record for taking the most tours through the cave.  I am not sure if that was broken??

My grandfather Rex Johnson was a cave tour guide for about 25 years at SDC.  He was there before it opened to the public also, along with Lester Vining and Bert Lewallen.  My father Jimmie Rex Johnson and uncle Billy Joe Johnson and Aunt Beverly used top play in the cave when Grandad was at work.  Here's a  photo.  I am looking for others.  

Wow, I lost track of this forum.  I was happy to find it again.  I am going to try to post photos in a couple days.  I have a couple of Grandad, (Rex Johnson) with tour groups. 

Does this book talk about Rex Johnson or Lester Vining?  My grandfather is Rex Johnson and I just wondered, this would be a great piece for our memorabilia.  Rex Johnson was one of the original tour guides and as a boy knew the Lynch sisters.  He worked for 25 years as a tour guide.  Thanks for sharing your info. 
Shelly Malicoat