On October 5th, the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame will enshrine six new members as the Class of 2024. Also being recognized will be the selection for the Meritorious Service Award and the male and female athlete of the year from the three Jackson Parish high schools. Over the next several weeks the Jackson Parish Journal will have a special feature on each. Today’s Edition – Ricky Johnson.

(by: Ben Ledbetter)

“They may as well go ahead and mail us the state championship trophy!” 

That is what Winnfield High School head football coach, Larry Dauterive, was quoted as saying to Louisiana Sports Writers prior to the 1977 LHSAA football season. 

In a way you couldn’t blame the coach for making such a brash statement as his Tiger’s had played for the Class AAA state championship the year before and his school was now dropping down to Class AA.

The fact is that a Tiger team did play for the LHSAA Class AA state championship that season. The Tiger team wasn’t from Winnfield though but from Jonesboro-Hodge High School whose 12 game improvement in wins from the year before (1-9 to 13-1) is still a LHSAA state record.  

How does a team make such an incredible turnaround in one year? It all starts with leadership. The 1977 edition of JHHS Tigers had a great coach in Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer Don Shows. They also had a tremendous amount of talent led by 2024 Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Ricky “Monk” Johnson.

It wasn’t as if the iconic team was a “one-hit” wonder. Actually, in 1974, three years prior to the season that set the tone for nearly two decades of Tiger football success, their greatness was predicted. That was when JHHS head football coach, Andy Malone, told the incoming freshman class that they would win a state title before they finished their high school career. 

The coach had watched the group win all eight games they played at Rundell Junior High School the year before, and knew that a tremendous influx of talent was now at his disposal. This was especially true at the running back position where there were several impressive players, led by Johnson who had proven to be a “man among boys”.

By virtue of his tremendous work ethic, Johnson got his first opportunity to prove his worth toward the end of his freshman season. Making his first start in the final district 3AAA contest of the year against Jena, “Monk”, as he was and still is fondly called by his friends, immediately made his presence felt by scoring three touchdowns, including two first quarter scores to lead JHHS to the 34-16 victory.  

Three years later with Johnson as the feature back in the vaunted JHHS “Veer” offense, the Tigers flourished winning the district 1AA championship with a perfect 9-0 record. Included was a most rewarding 6-0 victory over Winnfield that saw the game end in a 0-0 tie before being settled in the first regular season overtime game in LHSAA history. 

Perhaps the highlight of the season will be remembered as the Class AA state semifinal contest. Nearly 6,000 fans pack Caldwell-Peacock stadium to watch JHHS beat defending Class AA champion, Notre Dame of Crowley, who had entered the game with a 27 game winning streak and winners of 54 of their last 56 games to run their record to 13-0 and earn their first state championship game berth since 1945. 

Johnson was not only a leading force on offense where he set new JHHS records of single season scoring with 18 touchdowns and rushing for 1155 yards, but also on defense. It was from his linebacker position that he was played an integral role in the locally famed “Brickhouse Defense” that held regular season opponents to just 18 points and registered six shutouts in district play, still a JHHS school record. 

Post season accolades followed with Johnson being named District 1AA Most Valuable Offensive Player, Class AA Honorable Mention All-State, a member of the Louisiana Prep Top-40 team and given an American High School Athlete Award. 

Johnson would go on to sign a scholarship with Louisiana Tech University where he continued to have success, being voted as the teams Most Valuable Offensive Back in 1979. 

After graduation from La Tech with a BA degree in Business Administration and Management he began a successful career with Kraft Foods in New Orleans. Later he would move to Overland Park, Kansas where he earned his MBA from Webster University.

Today, Johnson is a regional manager for the Missouri Lottery Commission. There may have never been a more fitting place of work. It is kind of like coming full circle as JHHS certainly “won the lottery” when it comes to having someone with the character and leadership ability on and off the field as Johnson. 

Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2024
Ricky Johnson