Gene Johnston
Class of 2005
Gene Johnson attended Thronridge High School in Dolton and wrestled and played football for four years under Hall of Fame Coach Jack Robinson. He also ran track at Thornridge for four years. He graduated in 1963 and then went on to Northern Illinois University. Gene played football for the Huskies for three years. He was a 1969 graduate of NIU.
Gene coached for five years at Hillcrest High School and was Head Football Coach at Oak Forest High School for ten years. He taught in District 228 at Hillcrest and Oak Forest for thirty-three years.
During his over twenty years as an official, Gene worked as an official at numerous regional and sectional tournaments and served as a floor official at the IHSA individual state finals seven times. He was named SICA Official of the Year twice and was nominated as I.W.C.O.A. Official of the Year several times.
Gene credits much of his success to his high school coach, Jack Robinson.