Robert “Bob” Johnson graduated in 1989 from Morgan State University and was promptly hired as a science teacher and basketball coach at North Street School. From 1950 to 1956 his basketball team had two undefeated seasons, one Class C state championship and three Class C runner-up finishes. During these years in a segregated Maryland school system, the state tournaments for Black schools were held at Morgan State. The North Street Badgers also won one Tri-State championship.

In 1956, when the school systems integrated, Bob was assigned to North Hagerstown, where over 18 years he taught physical education, coached freshman and JV basketball, JV football and varsity baseball.

Bob’s accomplishments at North High included winning seasons each year, the development of an intramural program, a co-educational physical education program, and the Hubs becoming a demonstration center and a model school for the Presidents Council for Physical Fitness. North had the honor of being the only school to receive the Governors’ Citation Award for “Excellence in Physical Fitness and Physical Education.”

Bob was an active member of the International Athletic Association of Basketball Officials board for many years. He also was a member of the Washington County Volleyball Officials Association and, at the time of his inauguration, was still active as an official in the county high school and college volleyball leagues.

During the summer months from 1958 to 1974, Bob assumed the responsibility of being the director of Wheaton Park Playground, at the time the largest playground in Washington County, and managed the swimming pool at the Memorial Recreation Center.

As he was quoted from the 1970 Summer issue of Maryland Magazine, which profiled his distinction of being the first Black assigned to a coaching position at an integrated school in Washington County and wrote about his work in athletics. Bob said, “A lot of kids are looking for love and attention that they may not be getting at home, and it gives me a good feeling to give it to them. I help them learn how to play — how to lose, how to win. I fix up their scratches, cuts and bruises. But more than that, I help them do things they’re proud of.”