Calvin Cutler Johnson
July 4, 1923 - July 4, 2015

Although he played basketball for BYU in an era when college athletics were anything but glamorous and although his time as a cougar was brief (leaving the team and leaving school before his 20th birthday to purchase a ranch near his Kanab Utah home), he remained a Cougar fan through and through till the moment he died. (Even when his sons played football for Utah State and the University of Utah .

I call him grandpa, but he was actually my dad's grandpa.

How blessed I am to have had a strong and personal relationship with my GREAT-GRANDFATHER for 24 years! How blessed I am to have personally known my namesake!

Grandpa Calvin was born on July 4th 1923. Last night, on his 92nd birthday, grandpa passed on to join his wife of 72 years, his son, and a wide host of family and loved ones on the other side.

He moved on from this life at approximately 9:05pm, just seconds before the first boom of independence day firework.
He left this world much the way he entered it: with a bang. He died much the way he lived: larger than life.

The strongest man I've ever known (both in character and example, but also actual physical strength), I will deeply miss this legend of a man whom I was lucky enough to call grandpa.

I look forward to seeing him again, and I know he'll be thrilled to have a front row seat on the hardwood and the gridiron for cougar sports for years to come.

Rest in peace grandpa. Thanks for everything!