COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Mrs. Jane Johnson, a legend in the archery world, had twice been president of the National Archery Association, now USA Archery, a Level 4-NTS Coach who put decades of tireless effort into growing the sport and was honored with the George Helwig JOAD Award in 2009, a judge since 1984 and she judged the 1996 Olympic Games.
USA Archery is heartbroken to hear Jane Johnson passed away early this week and we join the archery community and the Johnson family in mourning the loss of one of the sport’s greatest icons.
USA Archery CEO Rod Menzer said, “Jane had the biggest heart, was always full of joy, and there are thousands of archers, coaches and judges who share her passion for the sport because of her care, generosity, mentorship and dedication.”
To honor and pay tribute to Johnson’s countless contributions to the sport of archery, USA Archery is renaming our judge recognition award the Jane Johnson Distinguished Judge Service Award. Johnson was the second recipient of this peer-voted award in 2017 for upholding the greatest ideals of sportsmanship and fair play.
Most nationally competitive members of USA Archery can remember Johnson carrying her step stool up and down the field while she served as a judge at countless events, diminutive in stature and needing the boost to call arrows. She was known for her witty puns, sharp sense of humor and kind smile.
Johnson also served on the National Archery Association Foundation as Secretary, Treasurer and President, and on the board of the National Archery Hall of Fame. Jane's contributions to the sport extended to USA Archery's original collegiate program. Johnson officiated several Olympic Festivals and led the archery events at the 1989 Olympic Festival in Oklahoma.
Johnson left her mark on the archery world at the state, national, continental and international levels. Johnson’s legacy is forever emblazoned on the walls of H&H Gun Range in Oklahoma City, where Johnson held weekly Trosper JOAD Club meetings for years and introduced countless 4-H members, Scouts and other members of the community to archery.
Johnson was a middle school math teacher at Casady School in Oklahoma City, where she took on the role of archery coach in 1980 when the former coach retired. Her sons, Cullen and Ward, had participated in archery in school and she did not want to see the athletic program disappear. Having grown up in a military family and changed schools 13 times in her childhood, Johnson found a sense of belonging in the archery community and made sure everyone who enjoyed the sport because of her felt that same sense of home.
Mrs. Jane Johnson will be missed by all who knew her and her impact on the archery world will always be felt.
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