Rod Johnson Scholarship Fund

Rod Johnson was always an avid sports fan. From playing baseball as a child in the empty lots of his hometown in Jackson, Mississippi, to hosting a nationally broadcast sports talk show – sports had always been his passion.

Rod attended Jackson State University and majored in mass communications, a field of study perfect for his personality. Rod knew no strangers. Those who knew him well knew him as a man of compassion, a man with a sense of humor, and a man who loved sports. It would take nothing more than the mere mention of his favorite teams, the Lakers, the Cowboys or the Cubs to spark up a vibrant conversation full of stats, player information, team outlook, draft picks, scores, injuries… the man knew it all!

In 2007, Rod was asked to co-host an Internet sports talk show called the, ‘Sports Kings’. Utilizing the tools obtained from his mass communication degree, Rod put forth the necessary work and relevant research to help make the show a success. Rod became an integral part of the show, which eventually took the Sports Kings brand to a new level. Behind the microphone, he was always prepared and broadcast a show that was enjoyed nationwide by all who tuned in.

Rod’s most enjoyable and memorable co-hosting event was attending Super Bowl 49 as a Yahoo Sports affiliate under the Sports Kings name. Not only did his role as a Sports Kings co-host allow him to meet many of his favorite NFL players, he was also able to network with other NFL affiliates and build relationships that proved to be invaluable.

Rod also became a regular at the Texas AT&T stadium covering games for the Dallas Cowboys. This role included broadcasting halftime reports as well as post game interviews with the players. He was indeed living out a dream come true.

Rod passed away in October 2016. He is survived by a wife supportive of his sports career pursuits and two young children whose love for sports mirror his own. Rod was able to thrive in his dream job as a result of the skills acquired from his degree in Mass communications. He was an advocate for higher education, and was a proud supporter of his Alma Mater – Jackson State University. In his memory, the ‘Rod Johnson Scholarship Fund’ is being created and will be awarded to a student attending Jackson State University pursuing study in Mass Communications with a focus in Radio Broadcasting. This scholarship will be awarded to one individual who aspires to take the tools learned at JSU and directly apply them to operating successfully in a career of their dreams – much like Rod did.

If you or someone you know would like to contribute to this scholarship fund, please donate at the following address: