[ad_1]
recent news
Rafer johnson – a decorated Olympian and American hero – passed away, TMZ Sports confirmed. He was 86 years old.
Johnson died Wednesday morning at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, surrounded by his family.
Johnson has lived an incredible life as an athlete, actor, philanthropist, and hero – it’s hard to choose where to begin to tell his story …
How about that … he was one of the brave men who attacked and overpowered a shooter Sirhan sirhan seconds later Robert kennedy was assassinated in 1968 at the Ambassador Hotel in LA
In fact, Johnson snatched Sirhan’s pistol and hid it in his own pocket to avoid violence.
As an athlete, Rafer won a gold medal in the decathlon at the 1960 Olympics in Rome … four years after winning silver in the same event at the 1956 Olympics.
He was a 2 sports athlete at UCLA – running track and basketball.
And understand this … he was such a mad athlete that the Los Angeles Rams selected him in the 28th round of the 1959 NFL Draft as a running back, although they never played a single game of college football!
After his rich athletic career, Johnson became an actor – appearing in a bunch of films including “Wild in the Country” with Elvis Presley, “Pirates of Tortuga” and even the 1989 James Bond film, “A License to Kill”.
Rafer also played a key role in launching the Special Olympics in 1968 – and co-founded the California Special Olympics in 1969.
Johnson served on the CSO Board of Directors for 2 decades before joining the Board of Governors.
Oh, and he also worked for the Peace Corps!
Johnson married his wife Betsy in 1971 and they had 2 children together – daughter Jennifer ann johnson and son Joshua Ray Johnson.
Both kids were star athletes at UCLA as well!
For those who wish to donate in honor of Rafer, the family asks to go through The Special Olympics Southern California Rafer Johnson Tribute Fund – which can be viewed here.
TEAR
[ad_2]
Source link