Pike Johnson

Pike Johnson
Date of birth: September 30, 1896
Place of birth: Javia, Sweden
Date of death: November 8, 1985 (aged 89)
Place of death: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Career information
Position(s): Tackle, Guard
Height: 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight: 185 lb (84 kg)
College: Washington & Lee
Organizations
As player:
1917, 1919
1920		 Massillon Tigers
Akron Pros
Career stats
Playing stats at NFL.com

Military career

Allegiance United States United States
Service/branch U.S. Army
Years of service 1918-1919
Battles/wars World War I
Awards Purple Heart

Karl Hilmer "Pike" Johnson (September 30, 1896 – November 8, 1985) was a professional football player in the American Professional Football Association (later renamed the National Football League in 1922) for the Akron Pros. In 1920 he and the Pros were awarded the very first NFL Championship. Prior to his career in the APFA, Johnson played with the Massillon Tigers of the Ohio League. He received all-pro honors in 1917. He was also World War I Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient.

In 2010 Johnson's grandson donated the miniature football shaped medallion (called a fob), that was given to his grandfather after winning the 1920 championship, to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. During the visit it was discovered that Pike Johnson was incorrectly identified as Frank Leonard Johnson who appears that the league's all-time roster, which also appears on NFL.com. However, it was the wrong "Pike" Johnson, one who never played with the Akron Pros. Also the jeweler who inscribed his name on the fob made a mistake when the first initial of "C" rather than "K" was etched onto the back of the gold piece.

References