Robert A. Johnson, Pittsburg
Former Emporia coach and teacher Robert A. Johnson of Pittsburg died Saturday, June 9, 2007, at the Mount Carmel Regional Medical Center. He was 80 and had cancer.
Mr. Johnson joined the U.S. Navy, serving from 1945-1947. He started a career in coaching and teaching in 1950 at Bonner Springs High School in 1950-51; Marysville High School, 1951-57; Emporia High School, 1957-60; College of Emporia, 1960-66; Pittsburg State University basketball coach, 1966-80; and PSU golf coach, 1977-87.
The son of Laben and Ellen Olson Johnson, he was born June 1, 1927, at Courtland. He graduated from Mankato High School where he participated in sports and from Kansas State University in 1950. He was a member of the 1948 K-State basketball team who played in the NCAA Final Four. He was inducted into the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1986, the Pittsburg State University Sports Hall of Fame in September 2006 and the NAIA Hall of Fame in March 2007.
He married Kathleen “Dee” Currie Johnson on Feb. 6, 1949. She died earlier.
Mr. Johnson is survived by six children, Ellen Wamser of Admire, Joni Jones of Baldwin City, Russell Johnson of Pittsburg, Chris Johnson of Fort Smith, Ark., Eric Johnson of Webb City, Mo., and Jerilyn Houghton of Polo, Mo.; nine grandchildren, one of whom lives in the area, Josie Wamser of Admire. Three sisters, Doris Lavigne, Margaret Moffitt and Kay Julian, died earlier.
The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Pittsburg. The private family burial will be at a later date in the Carnahan-Garrison Cemetery, north of Manhattan. The family will meet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Brenner Mortuary in Pittsburg.
Memorial contributions to Angels Among Us may be sent in care of the funeral home, 114 East 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762.