BY CRAIG WENZEL TRUE DAKOTAN EDITOR
PHOTO COURTESY BRIAN GEVIK/SD PUBLIC BROADCASTING
When you sit down to supper at the Lee and Jackie Johnson residence in Wessington Springs, chances are pretty good that sports will be one of the topics of conversation.
Aside from a 29-year career in sports officiating, Lee and Jackie have managed to follow their children through the sports cycle at Wessington Springs High School and beyond. Their three children– Lacey, Laura and Andy– all played sports at WSHS. Lacey went on to a four-year basketball career at North Dakota State University in Fargo.
One of the biggest conflicts of his career came in 1999. Already booked to officiate the State A Girls Basketball Tournament in Aberdeen, Lacey led the Lady Spartans to that year’s fall classic.
Once it was apparent that his daughter was going to play in the same tournament he was working, the tournament officials made a decision: he would work in the opposite bracket through the entire tournament. The Spartans went on to place second –losing a double overtime thriller to West Central– in first girls state tournament appearance in WSHS history. Lee was sitting in the stands with family and friends instead of wearing a striped shirt on the floor.
Lee was presented the “Active Officials Award” by the National Federation Officials Association during State A boys basketball tournament. The Wessington Springs native finished his 29th season while officiating in the 2010 boys state basketball tournament two weeks ago.. The entire story appears in the March 30, 2010 issue of the True Dakotan (subscribe by sending $45.00 (out of South Dakota) or $37.10 (in South Dakota) to PO Box 358, Wessington Springs, SD 57382.
on Apr 26th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Lee and Jackie, I am proud of you guys like you were my own children. I think about you all and am praying for you daily and always wishing you the very best of everything. Love to you all.
TTYL