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.

 

[Hotseat]

Amen!

 

[theradiopro]

I feel as thought a piece of my youth has passed. Rest in peace sir.

 

[taylorengineer]

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.

Good post, Rick!
RIP Ernie.....we hardly knew ye.

 

[onetake]

Ernie was a fan, and when the Braves were having lousy seasons he didn't pounce on the players or question the coach or criticize the owners. He did his job without meddling into everybody else's. Today so much commentary from guys who didn't play the game, or who think they know more than anybody, becomes just noise.

Ernie was welcome in my home anyday. And in the hallways of Turner on West Peachtree and later Techwood he was the same gentleman. He wouldn't get trapped in the cafe by guys who wanted to join in ripping everybody apart.

If anything, Ernie Johnson modeled what so many in broadcasting used to model, that he felt he was in the "Luckiest Dog in the World" club just by having that job.

God Bless His Life and Memory

 

[RhubarbFan]

God Bless Erin Johnson,he along with Skip Carray and the Professor Pete Van Wern,made Braves baseball entertaing even when they were losing a 100 games a year. don Sutton has said many times that Ernie Johnson was the reason he came to Atlanta.