John L. Johnson, a former UCLA football teammate of Jackie Robinson who went on to found the Cal State Dominguez Hills athletics department and serve as its golf coach for 45 years, died in his sleep Saturday. He was 96.
Known as the original “Dr. J” after having obtained a doctorate in education and administration from UCLA, Johnson played fullback and linebacker for a Bruins team that won its first 10 games in 1946 before losing to Illinois in the Rose Bowl. He later scored two touchdowns and was named most valuable player of the Hula Bowl, the postseason all-star game for collegiate seniors.