James Johnson

2024 Inductee

James Johnson graduated from Chattanooga Valley High School in 1968.  During those 4 years of high school, he played basketball, football, and track.  During his senior year, the school added a baseball team, so he was a member of the first-ever baseball team at Chattanooga Valley.  Mr. Johnson was drafted into the Army and served in Germany from 1970-1972.  He worked in the mills and spent much of his free time building rec ball fields and coaching rec baseball and football.  And although I am certain Mr. Johnson was a fine athlete and I bet he could bend your ear talking about some of his great victories playing or coaching rec, we are here tonight to honor and thank him for his dedication and commitment to Ridgeland football.  His work with Mr. Forrester is still difficult for me to fully wrap my head around.  For 34 years, if Ridgeland had a home football game, you didn’t have to wonder where he’d be on Friday night.  Like clockwork, he would stroll up with David Forrester and assume his position working the chains for the football game.  For 34 years, he was a proud member of the Ridgeland High School football chain gang.  Tonight Mr. Johnson, I hope you understand how big a gift that was to the football team, this school and to me personally.  It was a tremendous deed that you sacrificially repeated for 34 years.  When one looks to define dependable, reliable and sacrificial, they will find you.  Mr. James Johnson, congratulations!  You are a member of the Hall of Fame class of 2024.  Thank you for your great contributions to Ridgeland High School.

-Tim Sparks