Rafer Johnson’s story is one of athletic brilliance, moral courage, and lifelong service (0)

One of the most outstanding and multitalented sport and film legend of 20th century – American star Rafer Johnson was great celebrity and famous person throughout the world before some 65 years…

Rafer Lewis Johnson was born in Hillsboro, Texas on 18 Aug 1934. Then his family moved to Kingsburg, California in 1943. As a teenager Rafer played Soccer, Baseball and Basketball in Kingsburg High School. In 1952 Johnson was coached by famous Murl Dodson and they both went to see the Victory Parade after returning of Mathias with the Olympic Gold medal from Helsinki….

In the late august of 1952 Rafer competed in his first Decathlon (school invitation) and won gold with score of 6926 points (1952 tables). He repeated his triumph in 1953 & 1954.

In 1954, only 20, Rafer Johnson accumulated his first senior Decathlon score – 6214 points (5873 according current tables). Next year (1955) progressed steadily – his first Decathlon’55 was made yet in February – 7063 (7022 current tables). Just a month later (19 March) Rafer won Decathlon of Pan American Games in Mexico (6946 points).

Johnson was so impressive some three months after that – competing in Kingsburg Rafer compiled his first Word record (7985 and 7608 according 1984 tables). Here are his marks in every event: 100 m 10.5; LJ 7.49; SP 13.80; HJ 1.85; 400 m 49.7/ 14.5 110 m hurdles; 47.20 DT; 3.87 PV; 59.09 JT and 5:01.5 1500 m).

In Olympic 1956 Rafer commenced yet in May with mighty LJ 7.76 m (which would have ranked him on sixth place in World year rankings). Johnson competed again at US Trials in Crawfordsville in July and scored 7754 (7419) to take the spot in US team. (10.6; 7.07; 15.15; 1.85; 47.9/ 14.44; 45.54; 3.50; 55.59; 51.24). Anyway, just before sealing for Olympiade in Melbourne (at the end of November), Rafer injured his knee and hip muscle and had to withdraw from LJ. Focused only on Decathlon, in Australia Rafer straggled bravely with his compatriot Milt Campbell, but was forced to postpone his Olympic dream. Campbell led after first day (4564), ahead of Johnson (4375) and West German Martin Lauer (4064). In the beginning of second competitive day Campbell run superb 110 m hurdles (14.0), and Johnson responded with modest 15.1 That was a decisive moment and eventually Campbell won the Olympic crown in Olympic record of 7937 (7614), way ahead of Johnson 7587 (7422). After all, that was the last defeat for Rafer in Decathlon…

Rafer missed whole 1957 because of injury. At USSR-USA match in Soviet capital Moscow (July 1958) Rafer achieved his second WR with massive 8302 (7789 according 1985 tables).

For regret Rafer competed occasionally in the next 1959 Johnson, only at throwing event (DT 52.31 & JT 73.33). That was because Johnson survived a car accident and rested not fully recovered.

In Olympic 1960 Rafer trained very hard (at that time still in UCLA in California). More than half a year his training partner (both were coached by fellow Elvin “Ducky” Drake) was the Taiwanian Yang Chuan-kwang. Their concurrence during training session turned them into a good friend.

Rafer fulfilled his third (and last) WR in Decathlon during US trials in Walnut (08-09 July 1960). Johnson scored 8683 points (7982 according current tables). Here are his individual marks: 100 m 10.6; LJ 7.55; SP 15.85; HJ 1.78; 400 m 48.6/ 110 m hurdles 14.5; DT 51.98; PV 3.97; JT 71.09; 1500 m 5:09.9). At that time Johnson transferred from perfect sprinter-jumper: 100 m 10.8; 400 m 47.9; 110 m h 13.8; LJ 7.76) into a type of “sprinter-thrower” (SP 16.75; DT 52.50; JT 76.75)…..

The battle between Johnson and Yang Chuan-kwang at Olympic 1960 was one of the most splendid and remembering occurences of Roma Games. Kwang led after first two events (100 m 10.7 & 7.46) and Rafer could only reply with 10.9 & 7.35. But Johnson launched the shot to massive 15.82 (when Kwang achieved only 13.33) and kept the advance after HJ (although 1.85 to 1.90 for Kwang) but the difference still stayed a little bit thiny. In 400 m Johnson stepped back in a 48.3 (48.1 in the same heat for Kwang), but hold on the advance with 4647 points to 4592 of Kwang…… Rafer began second day with devastating 15.3 at 110 m hurdles (compared with 14.6 of Kwang). Thus Yang Chuang melted the difference and now the Taiwanian led with only 12 points. But Rafer regained his leadership in Discus throw, launching the implement to 48.49 when Kwang threw only 39.83. Johnson could manage with 4.10 m at PV, while Kwang coped with 4.30 m. Both were not the perfect at JT- 69.76 for Johnson and 68.22 for Kwang. To keep his precedence, for Johnson the task was simple not to lag more 10 meters behind Kwang. Eventually Rafer run 1500 m for 4:49.7 compared with 4:48.5 of Kwang. So Olympic victory was for Johnson (8392 (7901) to Kwang’s 8334 (7820). All of it, this appeared as the finest and sharpest rivalry during whole Olympic Decathlon history.

The golden appearance of Rafer became his last competition in track & field. It frappings, that three years later (again in Walnut!) Yang Chuan-Fang broke the Decathlon WR with a mighty 9121 points (8009 points according 1985 tables)…..

In 1960, Johnson began acting in motion pictures and working as a sportscaster. He made several film appearances, mostly in the 1960s. Johnson worked full-time as a sportscaster in the early 1970s. He was a weekend sports anchor on the local NBC affiliate in Los Angeles, KNBC, but seemed uncomfortable in that position and eventually moved on to other things.

Johnson worked on the presidential election campaign of United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and on June 5, 1968, with the help of Rosey Grier and George Plimpton, he apprehended Sirhan Sirhan immediately after Sirhan had assassinated Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Kennedy died the following day at Good Samaritan Hospital. Johnson discussed the experience in his autobiography, The Best That I Can Be (published in 1999 by Galilee Trade Publishing and co-authored with Philip Goldberg).

Johnson served on the organizing committee for the first Special Olympics competition in Chicago in 1968, hosted by Special Olympics founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the next year he led the founding of the California Special Olympics. Johnson, along with a small group of volunteers, founded California Special Olympics in 1969 by conducting a competition at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for 900 individuals with intellectual disabilities. Following the first California Games in 1969, Johnson became one of the original members of the board of directors. The board worked together to raise funds and offer a modest program of swimming and track and field. In 1983, Rafer ran for President of the Board to increase Board participation, reorganize the staff to most effectively use each person's talents, and expand fundraising efforts. He was elected president and served in the capacity until 1992, when he was named chairman of the Board of Governors.

Johnson married Elizabeth Thorsen in 1971. They had two children and four grandchildren.

Johnson was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year in 1958 and won the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States in 1960, breaking that award's color barrier. In 1962, he received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement. He was chosen to ignite the Olympic Flame during the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, becoming the first Black athlete in Olympic history to do so. In 1994, he was elected into the first class of the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.

In 1998, Rafer Johnson was named one of ESPN's 100 Greatest North American Athletes of the 20th Century. In 2006, the NCAA named him one of the 100 Most Influential Student Athletes of the past 100 years. On August 25, 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver announced that Johnson would be one of 13 California Hall of Fame inductees in The California Museum's yearlong exhibit. The induction ceremony was on December 1, 2009, in Sacramento, California. Johnson was a member of The Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C. National Intercollegiate All-American Football Players Honor Roll.

Rafer Johnson Junior High School in Kingsburg, California is named in his honor, as are Rafer Johnson Community Day School and Rafer Johnson Children's Center, both in Bakersfield, California. The latter school, which has classes for special education students from the ages of birth-5, also puts on an annual Rafer Johnson Day. Every year Johnson himself spoke at the event and cheered on hundreds of students with special needs as they participated in a variety of track and field events.

In 2010, Johnson received the Fernando Award for Civic Accomplishment from the Fernando Foundation and in 2011, he was inducted into the Bakersfield City School District Hall of Fame. Additionally, Rafer acted as the athletic advisor to Dan Guerrero, Director of Athletics at UCLA. He was Inducted into the Texas Track and Field Coaches Hall of Fame, Class of 2016.

In November 2014, Rafer Johnson received the Athletes in Excellence Award from The Foundation for Global Sports Development, in recognition of his community service efforts and work with youth.

In 2005, Rafer Johnson was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) degree from Whittier College.

And finally, how could be imagined the score of the best Johnson’s best performances: 100 m 10.3; LJ 7.76; SP 16.75; HJ 1.89; 400 m 47.9; 110 m hurdles 13.8; DT 52.50; PV 4.10; JT 76.75; 1500 m 4:49.7. And that would be meant mighty 8626 points (According 1985 tables!).

Alexander Vangelov for Decathlon 2000