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This is a tough one. I worked at Special Olympics Southern California for the past 6 years until my last day yesterday. When I started, Rafer was still around the office and he had such a magnetic presence and everyone truly admired him. https://twitter.com/latimeswharton/status/1334207225233952768
At this time last year, I was starting a months-long research project dedicated to celebrating the 60th anniversary of his gold medal, his life and impact on Special Olympics. That series of stories included:
The Build to the 1960 Rome Olympics https://wearesosc.org/2020/08/24/rafer-johnson-pre-1960/
The Build to the 1960 Rome Olympics https://wearesosc.org/2020/08/24/rafer-johnson-pre-1960/
Rafer made history as the first Black American to bring in the flag for the delegation. https://wearesosc.org/2020/08/25/rafer-johnson-opening/
Rafer Johnson and C.K. Yang had an Olympic decathlon for the ages and have been forever linked together since their time at UCLA. https://wearesosc.org/2020/09/03/rafer-johnson-1960-decathlon/
Ann Meyers Drysdale, a UCLA legend in her own right, had a shared bond through basketball with Rafer Johnson https://wearesosc.org/2020/09/04/rafer-johnson-ucla-legend/
But it was his impact as Special Olympics Southern California’s founder that was easily his greatest accomplishment. Maria Shriver and a host of his friends had no shortage of words. https://wearesosc.org/2020/09/12/rafer-johnson-immeasurable-impact/
One of my favorite things I learned over the past year when I interviewed his friends and family was from his children. They had no clue their father was going to light the flame at the 1984 Olympics Opening Ceremony in Los Angeles. https://wearesosc.org/2020/07/28/inside-sosc-rafer-at-the-84-olympics/
To say Rafer Johnson will be missed is quite the understatement. Rest in peace to an incredible (and vastly underappreciated) athlete—but an even better person.
