When you spend enough time in any business, you learn who the good guys are, the ones who can be trusted, and the ones who care. The people who are in it for the right reasons show their true colors repeatedly proving their intentions without looking for praise or gain.
Chris Johnson was one of the good guys in the media world in North Central West Virginia. I met Chris when he was at the Exponent Telegram in the early 2000s. His love for high school sports was apparent, but what made him stand out from others was the depth of his caring. It went far beyond the area teams to the players and coaches themselves. Chris would fight diligently for athletes that didn’t have the biggest of backings if he felt they deserved all-state accolades, regardless of their social or economic status.
Johnson spent two decades in print media and was a pivotal player with the West Virginia Sports Writers’ Association, serving as chairman for All-State football, boys basketball, and girls basketball at various times. He made sure that all athletes had a voice and the rightful individuals earned the proper awards.
Chris then transitioned to a new role five years ago with Connect Bridgeport, an online news and sports outlet. It was then that his focus superminded the Indian program.
Our friendship grew years back when Chris became a co-host with Mike King on the weekly radio show “The Friday Free For All.” He was a continual co-host with Andrew Caridi and then Alex Wiedenspiel until his recent unexpected passing.
During these interviews, Chris would always look for the best in every player and every team. He would take the high road when other would welcome the opportunity to run someone down following a lopsided loss or dismal performance. Chris showed class when others seemed to have none. He never looked for a pat on the back, but when he received one, he’d pass it on to someone else.
His co-host Alex Wiedenspiel is planning a tribute to him this Friday. It can be heard on 103.3 WKMZ from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. If you miss it, you can get the “Free for All” archived on Spotify and other avenues where podcasts can be found.
There is also a Gofundme set up for his family that was organized by Stacy Adams, his sister-in-law. Chris passed away at the young age of 52, but the amount of people’s lives that he touched and made better are countless.
Rest easy, my friend.
That will do it for now. Until next time . . . take care and God Bless!!