The Blair County Sports Hall Of Fame Dick Johnston Altoona little man made it big in basketball By JIM LANE After the season was over, the Roosevelt team Altoona Mirror entered the Altoona YMCA Midget Tournament (for junior high teams) and won the championship with ick Johnston was ahead of his time. Johnston garnering MVP honors. DBasketball today is played by men — and women “That was only the half of it,” Rice said. “Penn Sill — who dribble behind their back and between their put us in the Junior Tournament (high school) and we legs almost as soon as they hit the hardwood. beat the Altoona High jayvees in the first game. Then But there was a time when players were reluctant we played Rothrock, which had won the Class C state to try those things in prac - championship, and they tice, and they certainly couldn’t handle us. We didn’t try them in games. played Huntingdon High Although there’s no next. They had a very good proof, Dick Johnston proba - team, and we gave them a bly was the first player in the great game. Dicky made the Altoona area to use a second all-star team. behind-the-back dribble in “I think that was the first high school games. Actually, time people became aware he was doing it before he of how good he was,” Rice entered Altoona High School said. “He really put on a and became one of the show.” Mountain Lions’ all-time If they didn’t know it great guards. then, they found out soon “I think 7th grade was enough when he donned an the first time I ever did it,” Altoona High uniform. Johnston recalled recently. He had grown to about Johnston attended 5-6 by then and, in his first Roosevelt Junior High School game as a sophomore, the and used to shoot in the same day President John F. gym before school. Frank Kennedy was assassinated, Mastrocola, the Altoona High scored 16 points at Ellwood coach then, taught at City. Roosevelt and used to “We had scrimmaged watch Johnston shoot before a couple of good Class B school. He encouraged Dick teams in the preseason and I to develop the fancy drib - think I scored one point,” ble. Johnston said. “I was begin - “Frank said I needed to Dick's new favorite game is golf. ning to wonder if I would do it, so I did,” Johnston said. ever score. To get 16 in the Johnston became first game was kind of the known throughout the city when he was just a young - launching pad for me.” ster. Even though he usually was the smallest player, By the time he was finished, he was considered Johnston could compete with anyone. Whether it was one of the Mountain Lions’ all-time greats, and their Little League baseball or Recreation Commission bas - best “little man” ever. ketball, he was a standout. During his three varsity seasons, Johnston estab - “Even at 5-foot-4, he was the best I ever had — by lished then-school records for most points in a career far,” said former Roosevelt basketball coach Jim Rice, (1,427) and points in one game (42). The 1,427 is still who compiled an incredible record of 179-18 and nine third best at AHS, and he did it without the benefit of Inter-County League titles in 11 years. “We were unde - the 3-point shot. feated his 9th grade year, and nobody came within 10 “We beat Farrell all three years,” he said, “and points of us.” that’s when they were in their heyday. After my sopho - -19- The Blair County Sports Hall Of Fame more year, Farrell coach Eddie McCluskey said if I his interest in sports at an early age. wanted to move there he could get my dad a job.” All three brothers were outstanding baseball play - Johnston helped the Lions to a ers. Jim, a first baseman, played couple of District 6 championships college ball in Florida and Bob and earned first-team all-state pitched at IUP before pitching in honors in both 1965 and 1966. the Pirates’ minor league system for “I had great junior high coach - a couple of years. es (Rice and Tom Foose) and great Dick was a second baseman- high school coaches (Mastrocola outfielder who played at 14th Ward and Jack Ray),” Johnston said. and drew interest from major “They knew their basketball and league scouts while playing for the were good teachers. Altoona South team in the local “When I went to Tennessee, AAABA league. Ray Mears was considered one of “I played against Reggie the best college coaches — prob - Jackson in the AAABA Tournament ably second only to John Wooden at Johnstown,” Johnston noted. “I at the time — and a lot of the went 1-for-5 and Reggie was 0-for- things he did, we had done in jun - 4.” ior high and high school.” At Tennessee, he became Johnston chose Tennessee over friends with Phil Garner, who later North Carolina and had a solid went on to have a solid major career with the Volunteers. His role league career as a player and throughout most of the time was as manager. the sixth man. During his senior sea - “I wish I had played baseball in son, Johnston finished second in college,” Johnston said. “I used to assists, converted 31 straight free take batting practice with Phil throws at one stretch, and was Garner and he asked me to come given honorable mention on UPI’s out for the team. But, they traveled Little American Team for players 5- so much and it was right after bas - 10 and under. Despite being just 5-foot-8, Dick ketball, so I never did.” “I was in college at a great stands tall in local basketball lore. After graduating from time,” Johnston said. “I was fortu - Tennessee in 1971, Johnston lived nate to play against guys like Lew Alcindor, Pete and worked in Virginia, Florida, and Tennessee for a Maravich, Dan Issel and Calvin Murphy. Maravich was number of years. He’s lived in Fort Wayne, Ind. since the best. He could do things nobody else did. UCLA 1984 and has owned his own accounting firm, had Alcindor with Lucious Allen and Mike Warren at Johnston Associates, LLC, for the last 10 years. guard. They were terrific.” He has two sons and a daughter by two marriages. Johnston lists two appearances in the NIT at His sons, Rich and Greg, live in the Altoona area. Madison Square Garden among his college highlights. Johnston said he was surprised when former Blair “That’s when the NIT meant something,” he said. County Hall of Fame president Steve Sheetz called to “There were only 24 teams in the inform him he had been selected NCAA then.” for induction with the Class of 2002. Although he “enjoyed “I thought it was a joke at first, Tennessee tremendously,” Johnston and I probably wasn’t as excited as said he probably should have gone Johnston bio I should have been,” Johnston said. to North Carolina. “But, when I stopped to think about “Dean Smith and Larry Brown Sport: Basketball. all of the guys who played there, it (Smith’s assistant) saw me have a High school: Altoona, 1966. made me proud to know people couple of good games in high College: Tennessee. thought that much of me. school, and they wanted me,” “I remember when playing at Johnston said. “They played more of Hall of Fame achievement: the Jaffa Mosque was big time,’’ he my style — running and shooting, Outstanding player at Altoona said. “I loved playing there because whereas Tennessee was more of a who earned full scholarship there were so many great athletes half-court team.” to University of Tennessee. and sports were so respected in The youngest of three boys, Dick Current occupation: Altoona. grew up watching and playing with Accountant. “It’s nice to be remembered, his older brothers, Bob and Jim. His Current residence: and I feel very honored and hum - brothers and his dad, Harry, fueled Fort Wayne, Ind. bled by it.” -20-.