Dick Johnson
and family
BY DREW WATHEY
or many athletes, pickleball
has proven to be a life-
altering experience. But none
perhaps more so than Idaho
and Arizona resident Dick
Johnson.
Dealing with a serious diabetic condition,
Dick, a lifelong champion tennis player,
decided to pick up a paddle at the tender
age of 73—and the rest is history. It’s also
dedication to the sport of pickleball and a
loving family whose athletic achievements
mirror dear ‘ol Dad’s.
Dick and his wife of 55 years, Lawana,
raised four daughters in the Boise area
and they all felt right at home on the
tennis court. Three won high school state
championships and earned high school
All-American status. Eldest daughter
Sheri, 52, was a four-year letter winner
at Boise State where she capped off her
career by being named an NCAA Academic
All-American while playing for the
Broncos.
In 1986, second daughter Shelly and Dick
captured the big eight-state Intermountain
Regional, earning a trip to play in the
National Father-Daughter Championship
at the US Open.
Recently, Dick defended titles in the
Idaho Senior Games, where he won his
very first pickleball gold medals in 2013.
Not to be outdone, with less than a year
of experience on the court, Sheri won a
medal playing women’s doubles. “Finding
pickleball has been a great blessing to
Lawana and me in many ways,” says
Dick. “The Senior Games’ philosophy
and emphasis on being physically active
in sports and living healthier helped me
overcome my health problem. Winning or
losing doesn’t really matter as much as
the sport helps us all live longer and be
healthier and happier along the way.”
Over the last six years, Dick has won 55
medals (22 gold, 19 silver and 14 bronze)
at pickleball’s major tournaments. Since
52
hitting the courts, he’s amassed a
remarkable 200 medals in 100
sanctioned pickleball events.
“Meeting so many
wonderful people in
Pickleball Nation has been
one of the choicest blessings
of our sunset years.”
Lawana played right alongside
Dick and the family, but is
unable to play competitively
after breaking her shoulder
backpedaling for a lob. She is now
the family’s head cheerleader. She’s
even volunteered as a referee at the
sport’s major events. “She knows more
about the rules than I do,” says Dick.
“And meeting so many wonderful people
in Pickleball Nation has been one of the
choicest blessings of our sunset years.
Players, spouses, staff workers, dedicated
volunteers—we love all those choice
relationships!”
This year has been a year to remember
for the Johnson clan. Profiled in a Health
News Report by CNN and sponsored
by Humana Health, Dick was one of 11
athletes featured out of nearly 14,000
who participated in the National Senior
Games and the only pickleball player. The
report, titled “The Spirit is Undaunted:
Portraits Showcase Strength of Senior
Athletes,” featured the work of acclaimed
photographer Tim Tadder, well-known for
artistic photographs of elite athletes.
“It was a great honor being chosen for the
CNN article, especially because it featured
older athletes, instead of the great young
guns,” says Dick. A year ago he was also
chosen as Pickleball Rocks Male Player
of the Year, with Lucy Kovalova as the
Female Player of the Year. In addition, he
was selected from 100,000 athletes in
all sports, and the only pickleball
player, to receive the National
Senior Games’ Personal Best
Award.
Dick Johnson at the National Senior Games
Dick Johnson and daughter
Behind every great man is
adoring and supportive family
members who help him strive
for greatness, regardless of
age. Dick Johnson and his family
are a testament to that. •
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Lawana and Dick Johnson