Eastern Michigan Athletics
Former EMU Football All-American Ron Johnson Honored by Detroit Northwestern H.S.
5/10/2006 9:42:53 AM | Football, Tickets
Football field named in his honor
YPSILANTI, Mich.- Former Eastern Michigan University football All-American Ron Johnson received many awards and honors during his college and professional football careers but perhaps his biggest personal honor will be bestowed on him May 17 when he is honored by his high school, Detroit Northwestern.
Detroit Northwestern has planned a ribbon cutting and football field dedication for Wednesday, May 17, when the field will officially be named the Johnson Football Field, in honor of EMU’s Ron Johnson and University of Michigan’s All-American football player, also named Ron Johnson.
The football field dedication is set for 4 p.m. at Northwestern’s field. A Northwestern High School Sports Recognition Banquet will be held later that evening, stating at 6 p.m. at the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church , 2080 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit.
EMU’s Ron Johnson enjoyed an outstanding career from 1974-77 for the then-Hurons. He was a first-team All-Mid-American Conference selection as both a junior and senior and was an Associated Press third-team All-American in 1977.
After completing his senior season, Johnson went on to play in both the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl Game for graduated players. He was voted the North team’s Defensive Most Valuable Player in the Senior Bowl.
Johnson then became the first EMU player ever drafted in the first round of the National Football League draft when he was the 22nd player in the nation when he was a first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Johnson then went on to star as a defensive back for the Steelers. He began his Pittsburgh career as a starting defensive back and went on to enjoy seven solid years as a starter. He played 91 games as a pro football player, starting 61 times and had 14 interceptions in his career. Johnson played on two Super Bowl Championship teams, in 1979 and 1980, as a starting defensive back.
