![]() Though they were for a time the only Black family in the town, Johnson earned the respect of his classmates and was voted class president in middle school and high school.Johnson chose to attend UCLA in part because of the campus’s history as a college for athletes and students of all races. In 1944, his family moved to Kingsburg, California, some 200 miles north of Los Angeles. 18, 1934, in Hillsboro, Texas, and grew up in an impoverished neighborhood marked by segregation and discrimination. “He will forever be remembered not only for his historic athletic achievements, but also for his heart and for the tremendous example he has set for all Bruins. “We are devastated by the news of the passing of Rafer Johnson,” UCLA Athletics shared. “His commitment and untiring leadership to achieve equality and access for everyone is an inspiration to us all.” “At the same time he was struggling to break down the racial barriers he faced, Rafer Johnson selflessly dedicated himself to helping others, specifically joining the fight by those with intellectual disabilities against the stigmatization they too often face,” Block said while bestowing the medal to Johnson during a special dinner held in his honor. In 2016, Block presented Johnson with the UCLA Medal, UCLA’s highest honor, in recognition of his decades of leadership in the Special Olympics and unwavering efforts supporting equality for all. Helping those who need it may be the truest Bruin value of all.” “He reminds us that everyone needs the help of others at times and that all of us can extend our help to others as well. “That commitment to helping others get over the hurdles in life - be they racial discrimination or developmental disabilities - was clearly a driving force for Rafer,” Chancellor Gene Block said in a message to the UCLA community. He was 86.įollowing a storied athletic career that culminated with a gold medal in the Olympic decathlon in 1960, Johnson dedicated his life to public service, a mission he carried out with a strength and grace he said was shaped in part by his experiences at UCLA. ![]() Rafer Johnson, a UCLA alumnus and two-time Olympic medalist whose work helping to found the Special Olympics and advance racial and social justice transcended his athletic achievements, died today at his home in Sherman Oaks.
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