A dominant force on both sides of
the football, Johnson led the Ramblers in rushing and
scoring. The former West Point Military Academy
Cadet had suffered devastating injuries in a 1951 car
crash outside Portland, Oregon. Doctors feared he
would never walk again, but Johnson proved doubters
wrong by not only walking, but playing football again
with the Seattle Ramblers. A big hitter on
defense, the starting safety kept opposing receivers out
of the middle of the defensive backfield even though he
risked permanent paralysis should a hit go wrong and he
reinjure his spine. Awarded the teams'
Inspirational Award, Johnson was contacted and signed by
the Sasketchewan Roughriders of the Canadian League for
the 1953 season.
Ramblers offensive stats:
vs West Seattle All-Stars
2 TD's (9 yds/15 yds)
vs Bremerton Navy Yard Yellojackets 1
TD 1 - 2pt conversion
vs College of Puget Sound 2
TD's (50 yds/1 yd)
vs Oak Harbor 1 rush TD (1 yd)/ 1 rec
TD (22yds)
vs Fort Lewis Rockets 1 TD (15 yds)
vs Northwest College All Stars 1 rec TD
(45 yds)
1952 Seattle Ramblers Inspirational
Award (A gold watch from jeweler Frank Ursino.)
