Hall of Fame
Position: Center
Years: 1965-1967
Place of Birth: Gary, IN
Date of Birth: Aug 19, 1946
Jersey Number: 54
Height: 6-4
Weight: 232
High School: Cleveland, TN (Bradley County HS)
The Johnson story fills a glowing chapter in American family histories. First there was William F. Johnson, a good student and heavyweight boxer at Michigan State. He settled in Cleveland, Tennessee; he and his wife, Aletta, raised four sons. Three of the boys were starting centers for the University of Tennessee football team - Bob 1965-1967, Tom 1970-1972, and Paul, 1973-1975. They wore uniform numbers 54, 53, and 52. The fourth son, Bill, was a student trainer, pre-med scholar; he's now a surgeon. This is Bob Johnson's record: in high school, team captain, honor student, Eagle Scout; in college, team captain, unanimous All-America, National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete, winner of the Jacobs Trophy as Southeastern Conference's best blocker; in pro football, first draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals, team captain 11 years. Bob won more college honors: Knoxville Journal Trophy as best scholar on the team (B-plus in Industrial Engineering); center on the Southeastern Conference Quarter Century Team; president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Bob settled in Glendale, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati and became president of Imperial Adhesives Corporation. "Football," he says "gave me confidence - made me a doer instead of a watcher."
