JOSH JOHNSON HONORED — Former H.M. King High School Coach Donald Gann attended the ceremony for Josh along with KISD Chief Academic Officer Jennifer Kent, KISD school board member Corando Garza, Coach Robert Wilcox, Kayla Johnson (Josh’s sister), parents Kenny and Twila Johnson, Kendra Houston (Josh’s sister), and Jimmy Houston (Kendra’s husband). Last Friday night, during the rainy tail end of a passing thunderstorm, there was a pre-game ceremony that honored the retirement of Brahma Josh Johnson’s number 82 jersey. The special guests included the entire Johnson family, former Brahma football head coach Harry McCluskey, classmates and fellow teammates. Coach Robert Wilcox was also a ceremony presenter.

Twila and Kenny Johnson are the parents of this former H.M. King High School student-athlete who passed away in 1999 due to complications of Crohn’s Disease. Johnson played on the basketball team but showed his true athleticism on the football field where he excelled as a wide receiver and special teams center.

It was Coach Wilcox who had the idea of Johnson’s jersey retirement. As the new athletic director and head football coach, he attended last year’s Brave Bull Awards ceremony and watched Mrs. Johnson give her presentation and speak of her son’s endeavors to be the best student and best athlete possible.

The coach feels that Johnson’s legacy will help change the community’s culture that subpar efforts and performances aren’t acceptable. Average will no longer be “good enough” on their campus, whether it’s academics or athletics.

When the majority of Kingsville area residents hear about Josh Fest, the annual event that honors the memory of Johnson, most will have a general knowledge of the festival and how it all started. However, there is an evolving story that the community may not be fully aware of.

Josh Fest is more than just amateur rock bands, 5K runs, barbecue cook-offs, or golf tournaments. The purpose of the event is to raise substantial money for scholarships to be awarded in Johnson’s name, thus providing continuous community assistance and keeping the memory of this exceptional junior studentathlete alive in Kingsville.

So far the Josh Johnson Scholarship has help over 80 students and Josh Fest has helped raised over $100,000 to assist H.M. King High graduates attend college.

When family and friends recall their special memories of Johnson, one doesn’t get the sense that he was motivated by trophies, awards or accolades. He was driven by his faith and his loyal devotion to his family and teammates.

They added that one school year Josh, Kendra, Kayla and mom, Twila

Johnson Johnson, were all together on the high school campus. Mrs. Johnson taught government and history.

“In high school I’m sure it’s rare that you’d have your brother walk his sister to class,” Kayla Johnson said. “He’d find me and take me to class and of course all the girls would say, ‘Oh my gosh, we love your brother.’”

Kayla does have a mild form of Crohn’s Disease, but her health isn’t in danger as it is quite manageable.

Mrs. Johnson added that it wasn’t unusual for Josh to walk down the hall while holding her hand. “Yes, he was a typical 17-year-old boy, yet he had a strong work ethic and a high moral character,” Mrs. Johnson said. “I think Josh was placed on this earth for a real special purpose. He had a real gentle, sweet spirit.”

Johnson had dreams of playing college football with the Texas Longhorns. The family talked about how well they all got along together. Kendra Houston, Johnson’s oldest sister, stated that there may have been a possible future breach in the family unit due to college alliances.

“I’m thinking that there might have been a rift because I went to A&M and Josh had his heart set on UT,” Houston said. “But I think we would’ve gotten over it because I married a UT man, my husband Jimmy.”

The Johnsons have nothing but praise for the entire Kingsville community, its businesses and organizations for coming together every year to help sponsor, support and organize Josh Fest. Although due to tough economic times and asking the same sponsors year after year for help and donations, they’re considering scaling back the spring event to a simpler format such as a yearly golf tournament.

Kenny Johnson, Josh’s father, stressed that they think about other Kingsville kids who have passed away in recent years. “One thing that we’re conscious of is that this community seems to have lost a lot of young people,” Mr. Johnson said. “We’re not the only family who’ve lost their kids. We have real close friends who’ve lost kids too and our hearts go out to them.”

The Johnsons also have a dream of a possible Josh Johnson Memorial Stadium. Mrs. Johnson, who is now an instructor at Coastal Bend Community College, feels that a new stadium could be a reality in the not too distant future. This stadium would help bring much needed revenue to H.M. King High and its students’ clubs and organizations.