Henry "Hank" Clay Johnson

Henry Johnson attended Manual Training High School in Muskogee, Oklahoma where he participated in football, basketball and track. After graduation and a stint in the army, Coach Johnson went to Wiley College where he starred in football, baseball and tennis. Besides receiving a B.A. at Wiley, Hank attended UCLA, North Texas State where he received his administrative certificate and Prairie View where he received his M.A.

His coaching career included two years at Carver High, Karnack, Tex. (1950-52), 3 years at Weldon High in Gladewater, Tex. (1952-55), one year at Turner High in Carthage (1955), 16 years at I.M. Terrell as a baseball, football, tennis and track coach. When Terrell closed in 1972, he became vice-principal at Arlington Heights High School. He later became became vice principal of Poly, then principal of Forest Oak and then principal of Poly High School before retiring in 1986.

His contributions to the field of athletics include track championships at Gladewater, District championships at Carthage, a third place finish in the state meet at Prairie View in 1955. In 1957 his track team won the district championship where he started the Panther City Relays that drew teams from throughout the state. Of his many contributions, the Fort Worth Progressive Gents, of which he is co-founder and president is most significant, because this organization provides a $20,000 scholarship for a student athlete each year. Twelve (12) student athletes have taken advantage of this opportunity and three have graduated in the past three years.

As an official, Hank belonged to the East Texas Officials, the Southwestern Officials, and the Metroplex Officials Associations as well as many social and professional organizations where he has served as president. Hank is also a very active member of St. Peter Presbyterian Church.

The TAACA is proud to induct Coach Henry "Hank" Clay Johnson into the 1993 Hall of Honor.

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