There have been several tellings of Johnston's story in documentaries, films and docudramas about the eruption. The only telling of his story authorized and informed by a combination of his family, close friends, mentors, colleagues, and his own writings is in the book released by the University of Illinois Press in conjunction with the 39th anniversary of the eruption, on May 18, 2019: A Hero on Mount St. Helens; The Life and Legacy of David A. Johnston, by Melanie Holmes.