12 Bert Johnson

Bert Johnson was born Bert Edward Johnson on February 18, 1912, in Ashland, Kentucky to Joseph Willard Johnson and Effie Barber Johnson.  He was a remarkable multi-sport athlete who excelled in both football and basketball at the University of Kentucky.

Johnson attended Ashland High School in Ashland, Kentucky, where he made a name for himself as a standout athlete. Newspapers of the time dubbed him the greatest football player ever produced at Ashland. He scored a school-record 247 points and was named All-State twice and All-South once. His impressive performance earned him a spot in the Ashland Sports Hall of Fame.

Johnson attended the University of Kentucky, where he lettered in both football and basketball. Standing at 6 feet tall, he played as a guard in basketball and as a halfback in football. His nickname at UK was “Man o’ War,” a testament to his speed and agility.

Johnson was one of the best running backs to play for Kentucky. He was known for his ability to gain full speed quickly. Johnson was UK’s second All-Southeastern Conference player, following Ralph Kercheval.  He rushed for 1,457 yards in his career at Kentucky.  Johnson had runs of 84, 66, 64 and 51 yards, had an 86-yard punt return and threw touchdown passes covering 84, 66 and 38 yards. He punted 30 times for school and SEC records in a rain-and-mud battle against Washington & Lee. Perhaps it should be added that he played both offense and defense throughout his career.

Johnson’s most memorable performance came in 1934 when he scored two touchdowns with one covering 69 yards on Alabama. No other team scored twice against Bama that season prior to its 27-13 Rose Bowl win over Stanford.

In basketball, Johnson’s sole action came in the season opener for 1934 against a team of UK alumni.  He played briefly and scored a field goal. Coach Adolph Rupp used 18 players in that season-opener as Leroy Edwards led the scoring with 18 Points.

After college, Johnson went on to play professional football for six seasons. He played for teams such as the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Chicago Bears under legendary Coach George Halas, the Chicago Cardinals, and the Philadelphia Eagles. His professional career included notable performances, such as a 50-yard run for the Bears.

His son, Phil Johnson, was a member of UK’s ‘Fiddlin’ Five’ national championship team of 1958.

After retiring from football, Johnson worked for the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company. He passed away on August 10, 1993, at the age of 81.