Pitch Johnson
Encyclopedia
Franklin Pitcher "Pitch" Johnson (January 2, 1901 – September 21, 1967) was an American
track and field athlete
who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics
.
He was born in St. Louis, Missouri
and died in Rubidoux, California
.
In 1924 Johnson was selected for the US Olympic Team at the Paris Games in the 110 meter hurdles, and made it through to the semi-finals before being eliminated. 110 metre hurdles competition
Johnson was the track and field coach (1928–40) and director of the Drake Relays (1933–40) at Drake University
, and the director of track and field (1941–43) at Stanford University
. He served as an athletic instructor there until the end of World War II. After the cessation of hostilities in the Pacific he went to the Philippines and Japan in 1945 for the US Army to organize and conduct the Pacific Army Olympics. He entered private businiess in Southern California in 1947.
He married Mary Caroline MacDavitt, whom he had met at the University of Illinois, in 1927. They had two children, Franklin Pitcher Johnson jr.
, and Martin Lee Johnson, both of whom were track athletes at Stanford.
In 2009, he was selected by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association
(USTFCCCA) for that organization's hall of fame. The award was given at their annual meeting in Orlando, FL on December 16, 2009. The citation issued by them read:
Drake University established the title of "The Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays" on April 22, 2010, in conjunction with the 101st running of the Relays. The first holder of the title, Brian Brown, has been the director of the Relays since 2006, and is the eleventh director of the meet since its founding in 1910.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
track and field athlete
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
.
He was born in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and died in Rubidoux, California
Rubidoux, California
Rubidoux was a census-designated place and an unincorporated community in Riverside County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 34,280, up from 29,180 at the 2000 census. Like much of the fast-growing Inland Empire Metropolitan Area, Rubidoux is rapidly changing...
.
In 1924 Johnson was selected for the US Olympic Team at the Paris Games in the 110 meter hurdles, and made it through to the semi-finals before being eliminated. 110 metre hurdles competition
Athletics at the 1924 Summer Olympics - Men's 110 metre hurdles
The men's 110 metres hurdles event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1924 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on Tuesday, July 8, 1924 and on Wednesday, July 9, 1924.Twenty-eight hurdlers from 15 nations competed.-Records:...
Johnson was the track and field coach (1928–40) and director of the Drake Relays (1933–40) at Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
, and the director of track and field (1941–43) at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. He served as an athletic instructor there until the end of World War II. After the cessation of hostilities in the Pacific he went to the Philippines and Japan in 1945 for the US Army to organize and conduct the Pacific Army Olympics. He entered private businiess in Southern California in 1947.
He married Mary Caroline MacDavitt, whom he had met at the University of Illinois, in 1927. They had two children, Franklin Pitcher Johnson jr.
Franklin Pitcher Johnson jr.
Franklin Pitcher Johnson jr., or Pitch Johnson, is a founder of companies. He is considered a enterprising legend, inspiring several promotions at Stanford....
, and Martin Lee Johnson, both of whom were track athletes at Stanford.
In 2009, he was selected by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association
U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association is a New Orleans, Louisiana-based professional association representing men's and women's cross country and track & field coaches in the United States. The organization has about 8,000 members...
(USTFCCCA) for that organization's hall of fame. The award was given at their annual meeting in Orlando, FL on December 16, 2009. The citation issued by them read:
Drake University established the title of "The Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays" on April 22, 2010, in conjunction with the 101st running of the Relays. The first holder of the title, Brian Brown, has been the director of the Relays since 2006, and is the eleventh director of the meet since its founding in 1910.