Remembering Ernie Johnson

[Navig8or]

We lost one of Georgia Radio's true gentlemen on Friday. Ernie Johnson almost single-handedly built the Atlanta Braves radio network, driving from station to station, and making new friends all across the South. It’s been hard not to feel a great sadness over the loss of “the young right-hander from Brattleboro,” Ernie Johnson. Over the last couple days, my tears of sorrow have been interspersed with great memories of this kind giant. Ernie was a great husband, a great father, and a great friend. I met Ernie over 40 years ago, and had the privilege of working alongside him during many Braves’ broadcasts throughout the next 25. I was a young engineer at WSB, and was training as backup for Braves producer/engineer Tommy Hughes. On my first day, Ernie took me down on the field during batting practice and treated me as if we were old friends; plus he introduced me to Hank Aaron!! That’s the way Ernie was. He never knew a stranger. I learned at lot from Ernie… how to fill out a scorecard; how to read the sports-ticker; how to be a good station relations person; how to duck when a foul ball heads toward the radio booth; how to navigate a lamb chop; and more importantly about honesty, integrity and loyalty. Ernie was like your favorite uncle. He always had time for you. He was someone you could confide in. I never heard a cross word out of Ernie. He always had a pleasant disposition. Even during some terrible seasons, Ernie never lost his humility or his sense of humor. He was one of the funniest people I’ve ever been around. I’ll miss him dearly. While it may be a sad day on this third rock from the sun, there’s joy up in that great baseball stadium in the sky. Skip has his old partner back (“grab the net Ernie!”) and God has a new starting pitcher. Rest in peace old friend.

 

[fussbudget]

My first encounter with Ernie was through my father, who met him at a church gathering and was extremely impressed by his faith and his love for his family. Years later, I had the pleasure of sitting down to lunch with Ernie and hearing about his passion for the game. Over the airwaves of WSB-AM, his voice carried thousands of miles but for anyone who met him, his memory will carry on forever.