Conroe Courier - Sports
Hall of Famers: Booker T. Washington standouts earn statewide honor
By Mike Jones
A quartet of former Booker T. Washington High School standouts will receive a big honor this weekend at the 31st Annual Prairie View Interscholastic League Coaches Association Banquet in San Antonio Saturday.
The four were athletic stars at Washington, Conroe’s former black high school, and will be inducted into the state hall of fame in a ceremony Saturday afternoon at the Hilton Palacio del Rio Hotel in San Antonio.
Jimmy “Jet” Johnson (baseball), Earl Thompson (track), James Mitchell (football) and Cleve Freeman are four of the honorees at the banquet.
“I feel great about it,” Johnson, 60, said. “Being my age and playing all the baseball I did I’m getting all my rewards. It will be my legacy. One day my grandkid will know their grandfather made the hall of fame.”
Johnson was a member of the 1967 Washington state championship baseball team which beat Temple 4-2 in the final game for the crown. Johnson was the winning pitcher in the game and also played catcher and shortstop for the squad.
“That was a great feeling,” Johnson said. “I was glad we won it for the coach. We were team players. We had been striving hard to get there. We beat Brenham (undefeated) to go to state. We only had three pitchers, so that made us feel good to win it.”
Johnson was also a member of the 1965 Washington state title football team that knocked off Sherman for the crown.
“It was great,” he said. “It was a tradition (WHS won district for a decade straight). It was fantastic watching the players that played before me and then I finally got to play. We put it all together.”
Johnson said the hall of fame honor is something he’ll always remember.
“It’s fantastic,” he said. “I’m a little overwhelmed by it. Conroe should have more guys coming up in track and football into the hall of fame.”
Johnson, who was born in Conroe and still resides there, also played basketball at Washington. His coaches in all the sports included Charles Brown, James Wanza, William McDonald, Billy Henry and B.B. Jacques.
After desegregation, Johnson attended his senior year at Conroe High School. After high school, Johnson attended Prairie View A&M where he played baseball, earning MVP his freshman season and the Outstanding College Athlete of America award as a sophomore.
Later, Johnson got an offer to try out for the Houston Astros. Johnson is retired after a 23-year career with Southern Pacific through the merger with Union Pacific.
Thompson shared his passion for football and track with students at Dallas’ Bishop Dunne High School. As an assistant coach, the school won four state track and field titles. He is co-founder of the Redbird Raiders youth football program.
Mitchell was a member of the 1960 Washington state championship football team which beat Midland in the title game at the Conroe Stadium. He also helped the school make the state semifinals in 1961. He was a team captain during his junior and senior seasons.
The four were athletic stars at Washington, Conroe’s former black high school, and will be inducted into the state hall of fame in a ceremony Saturday afternoon at the Hilton Palacio del Rio Hotel in San Antonio.
Jimmy “Jet” Johnson (baseball), Earl Thompson (track), James Mitchell (football) and Cleve Freeman are four of the honorees at the banquet.
“I feel great about it,” Johnson, 60, said. “Being my age and playing all the baseball I did I’m getting all my rewards. It will be my legacy. One day my grandkid will know their grandfather made the hall of fame.”
Johnson was a member of the 1967 Washington state championship baseball team which beat Temple 4-2 in the final game for the crown. Johnson was the winning pitcher in the game and also played catcher and shortstop for the squad.
“That was a great feeling,” Johnson said. “I was glad we won it for the coach. We were team players. We had been striving hard to get there. We beat Brenham (undefeated) to go to state. We only had three pitchers, so that made us feel good to win it.”
Johnson was also a member of the 1965 Washington state title football team that knocked off Sherman for the crown.
“It was great,” he said. “It was a tradition (WHS won district for a decade straight). It was fantastic watching the players that played before me and then I finally got to play. We put it all together.”
Johnson said the hall of fame honor is something he’ll always remember.
“It’s fantastic,” he said. “I’m a little overwhelmed by it. Conroe should have more guys coming up in track and football into the hall of fame.”
Johnson, who was born in Conroe and still resides there, also played basketball at Washington. His coaches in all the sports included Charles Brown, James Wanza, William McDonald, Billy Henry and B.B. Jacques.
After desegregation, Johnson attended his senior year at Conroe High School. After high school, Johnson attended Prairie View A&M where he played baseball, earning MVP his freshman season and the Outstanding College Athlete of America award as a sophomore.
Later, Johnson got an offer to try out for the Houston Astros. Johnson is retired after a 23-year career with Southern Pacific through the merger with Union Pacific.
Thompson shared his passion for football and track with students at Dallas’ Bishop Dunne High School. As an assistant coach, the school won four state track and field titles. He is co-founder of the Redbird Raiders youth football program.
Mitchell was a member of the 1960 Washington state championship football team which beat Midland in the title game at the Conroe Stadium. He also helped the school make the state semifinals in 1961. He was a team captain during his junior and senior seasons.
31st Annual Prairie View Interscholastic League Coaches Association Banquet
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