Served longest term as president of the Amateur Softball Association from September 19, 1942 to January 18, 1948, which were critical years for the Association. If it wasn’t for Johnson’s strong leadership, drive, tenacity and connections with the Coca-Cola Company, the ASA could just as easily not flourished. One of the legends of sports writing, Johnson served as sports editor of the Nashville TENNESSEAN from 1937 until retiring in 1970. He joined the paper as a copy boy in 1918. After retiring, he spent three years as director of public relations at Churchill Downs. Johnson was a member of the ASA Executive Board from 1942 until his death August 10, 1991 at age 87.
