The life of retired Cleburne ISD principal, coach and educator Doug Johnson will be celebrated Friday, February 10 at 1 PM at The Heights Church.

                Johnson, who retired from the district in 1993 following 28 years of service, passed away December 29 at the age of 88.

                His career in CISD began in 1965 as a math teacher and coach at Cleburne High School. He became head coach of the Fightin’ Yellow Jackets in 1968, which included the role of athletic director.

The Jackets were predicted to finish the 1968 district season in last place, according to the CHS Santa Fe Trail yearbook. Instead, Cleburne posted one of their best records in recent years, finishing 8-2 in district play and tying for second place. This excerpt from the yearbook reflects the impact Johnson and assistant coaches Frank Hyde, Pete Hobby and Jay McCarty had on students:

                “The four varsity coaches this year, under Coach Doug Johnson, did more than teach their players the techniques of football; they inspired them with a fierce desire for victory, and the drive to achieve it.

                Many times the hard work, frustrations and disappointments of the coaches were forgotten as the limelight was focused on the product of their efforts—the team.

                The fine leadership of the coaches was acknowledged by the players themselves in speeches at the football banquet. The reaction of each boy who received an award was, ‘I couldn’t have done it without my coach.’”

                Fred Sarchet was a sophomore and the starting quarterback for the Jackets that season. Johnson was by his side when, as a senior, he signed a letter of intent with The University of Texas football program.

                “Doug Johnson was a person who put a lot of trust and faith in me, beginning in high school,” Sarchet said. “He helped me a lot. In the 1969 season, when we beat Killeen to win the district championship, he came to me during the game and asked, ‘do you think you could kick this field goal?’ I said yes and we won the game.”

                Sarchet felt Johnson’s faith in his abilities again when the Jackets were tied 14-14 with Corsicana—which was one up on Cleburne in penetrations.

                “He told me, ‘I don’t care how you do it, just get us inside the 20,’” Sarchet said. “And we got there. It meant so much that he had the confidence in me to ask.”

                Johnson went on to become a lifelong friend to his former player. They became district teammates when Sarchet returned to CISD as a high school social studies teacher and coach.

                “Doug wasn’t your average football coach, in a time when most were strict and stern in their relationships with players,” Sarchet said. “I think everybody saw him as one who listened and understood. He was one of those rare coaches who would adjust to each of his players. He was encouraging—everybody like playing for him.”

                Following several more seasons with the Jackets, Johnson started a new season of his own. In 1976 he was named the principal of the Fulton sixth grade campus. Retired CISD Assistant Superintendent Carolyn Cody was one of Johnson’s fellow principals.

                “I have never had a better friend than Doug Johnson,” Cody said. “He was so supportive of me. He and Charles Head taught me how to drive a school bus, which was included in the duties of a principal. Being the only female principal in the district could be kind of tough at times. Doug and Charles often came to my rescue.”

                “He was a gentle giant of a man,” Cody said. “He was also a giant of a leader. I loved him, respected him and learned a lot from him. Doug was a family man, he was a professional and he loved God.”

                In 1990, Johnson made another move to the position of middle school principal. He retired in 1993, but he would later return to service in a new way as a member of the CISD Board of Trustees.

                Susie Sarchet was a member of the Fulton faculty during Johnson’s leadership. He served as an administrative role model for Sarchet, who would go on to become principal of Coleman Elementary and opened the new Santa Fe Elementary as its first principal.

                “Doug was a natural leader,” Sarchet said. “He was great at getting the most out of people—he made everyone feel like they could do more than they thought they could. He respected and saw the best in everyone. He was a truly decent human being.”

                “Things didn’t rankle him,” she said. “He used to say ‘eat an elephant a bite at a time.’ He had a great ability to bring calm to a situation—I never saw him mad. He had great common sense. He was such a good leader.”

                To view Johnson’s obituary: https://obituaries.cleburnetimesreview.com/obituary/douglas-johnson-1086889382