Alvin "Al" Johnson Athletic Scholarship

Scholarship Type: Endowed
Established Date: May 10, 2011

Stephen Alvin Johnson (August 15, 1922 – May 5, 2011)

“Coach” Al Johnson was born Aug. 15, 1922, in Munday, Texas. He attended college and played football at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. For two years before joining the U.S. Marine Corps, serving from 1943-46. As part of the 5th Marine division, 13th Marines Artillery, he participated in action at Iwo Jima and the occupation of Japan. He married Isla Faye Berna in Dublin, Texas, on Dec. 22, 1946, then returned to Hardin-Simmons to complete his degree. Following graduation, he was named to the College All-Star Team, then was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was inducted into the Hardin-Simmons University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988 and into the Western New Mexico University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996. He and his wife moved to Silver City in 1949, where he taught and coached football and baseball, first at Western High School, then at Western New Mexico University. He served as the head football coach at Western New Mexico University in Silver City, New Mexico from 1950 to 1966. He also coached the baseball team at Western New Mexico from 1955 to 1970. He
retired from WNMU in 1985. And then later, he died at his home in Grants, New Mexico on May 5, 2011.
The scholarship was created in memory of Alvin “Al” Johnson by his wife, Isla Faye Johnson and daughter Stacee Meis.