- Johnson was a rugged player in the trenches – one of the stars of the Bay City Central football powerhouse of the 1960s.
- At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, he dominated the line of scrimmage while earning all-Saginaw Valley League and all-state.
- Johnson helped power the Wolves to an 8-1 record and a conference crown while being named team MVP in 1963.
- Johnson went on to letter for three seasons at the University of Michigan.
- He earned honorable mention all-Big Ten as the starting defensive tackle in 1965, playing alongside Bay County Sports Hall of Famers Clayton Wilhite and Ken Wright.
- Johnson later served as U-M freshman line coach under Bump Elliott and then Bo Schembechler while earning two master’s degrees.
- He has since served on numerous committees for the Michigan State Board of Education and has been a key proponent for Native American education issues.
Scholarship Criteria
The Bay County Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship is intended to provide a means to reward personal excellence in athletics to high school seniors. Students involved in a Bay County high school athletic program may apply for this scholarship with a monetary value of $1000.00.
Applicants receive consideration for this scholarship on the basis of:
- 2.0 GPA or above;
- Citizenship;
- High School Athletic Performance
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY
- Senior involved in Bay County high school athletics.
- Senior letter winner
- Senior that correctly completes the application.
- Winner must attend, as our guest, the Hall of Fame Banquet in November.
- Winner must attend a Bay County High School during their Senior Year.
- Be a student of merit, high personal character, and good behavior patterns
POLICIES OF THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
- Scholarships are for one year and not renewable.
- Scholarships are in the form of a personal check.
HOW DOES A CANDIDATE APPLY
- Obtain the application form from a counselor or print out the attached form.
- A comprehensive letter of recommendation covering leadership, character, and athletic ability from at least one person, but not more than three, directly associated with the candidate in the high school.
- All applications must be submitted to the Hall of Fame committee by MAY 10th of the current school year.
- A statement from the candidate of not more than 250 words summarizing school accomplishments and of the applicant’s objective of further education.