Robert Johnson impresses local youth at luncheon

For the second straight year, Utah safety Robert Johnson spoke to 200 junior high students at the annual Terrific Kids Luncheon sponsored by the Salt Lake Kiwanis Club at the Rice-Eccles Stadium press box. The Kiwanis Club honors top students every month throughout the school year at the various middle schools in Salt Lake City and then brings them all together for a luncheon at the end of the school year. Johnson was one of speakers in 2008 and he enjoyed it so much he volunteered to come back again this year.
The personable Johnson turned out to be the only speaker when one of the Ute gymnasts scheduled to speak, couldn’t make it. Johnson was more than able to fill the time and he impressed the kids with stories about his rough upbringing in South Central Los Angeles as one of seven children to a single mother and told how he attended three different middle schools and three different high schools because they had to keep moving. Johnson emphasized the importance of education and said he’ll be the first in his family to graduate from college. He is already just a few credits short of his degree even though he is just completing his junior season of eligibility.
Johnson also took the time to answer numerous questions from the kids, from what it was like playing in the Sugar Bowl to how good the Utes will be this year (he thinks they’ll be very good again) to what advice he would give them.
Robert Johnson is not only a great football player, but a a fine ambassador for the university and an excellent example for the youth of our state.