Source: McMaster University
http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/story.cfm?id=4316 McMaster mourns loss of Dr. Ray JohnsonOctober 25, 2006 McMaster lost one of its most community-minded citizens yesterday. Dr. Ray Johnson, a retired professor, Athletic Chair (Director) and Coach, died yesterday. He was 72. Johnson was an All-Star lineman with the University of Western Ontario in the 1950's. He was drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos in 1958 where he played from 1958 to 1960. Dr. Johnson joined the Marauder Football staff in 1965 as an assistant coach, and was part of the 1967 Atlantic Bowl winners and College Bowl (now Vanier Cup) finalist team. He took over as head football coach in 1969 and coached the Marauders for 11 seasons from 1969 to 1971, and from 1973 to 1980. Johnson also served as the Head Coach of the McMaster wrestling team from 1965 to 1969. He is a founding member of the Hamilton-Wentworth Wrestling club. Johnson spent two terms (10 years) as the Chair of McMaster Men's Athletics (1973 to 1978 and 1985 to 1991) and was a two-time president of the OUAA. He spent several years on the CIAU Board of Directors. He also served on groups that brought the Ontario Summer Games to Hamilton and was a member of the organizing committee for the International Children's Games in 2000. Dr. Johnson was inducted into the University of Western Ontario Hall of Fame in 1989 as a student-athlete, McMaster Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993 as a Builder and Brantford's Sport Hall of Recognition. He has been involved with more than 20 community groups. He was a member of the Ancaster Lions club for more than 40 years, worked with the Lions McInnes House for the Deaf and Blind in Brantford. He's also worked with the board of Sport Hamilton, the police advisory committee on diversity, Hamilton-Wentworth Crime Stoppers and the Hamilton District Health Council. Johnson sat on the board of the Bridge from Prison to the Community program, which counsels people who need help to get re-established in the community. In 2002, Johnson received the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal. In 2003, he was named Ancaster's Citizen of the Year. In 2004, he was inducted into Hamilton's Gallery of Distinction. In 2005, Johnson was named Hamilton Citizen of the Year. He is survived by wife, Thelma, and twin sons Richard and Raymond.
| 