Floyd J. Johnson Jr. (2004) - Hall of Fame

Floyd J. Johnson Jr.

Induction:
2004
Class:
1951

Floyd J. Johnson Jr. lettered for four seasons with the Diamond Dawgs from 1948-1951 as a pitcher.

Johnson, a Starkville native, was apart of State’s two first SEC Championship teams in 1948 and 1949. Over his four seasons, the Bulldogs went 60-27.

On the 1951 season, Johnson led the Bulldogs on the mound. He compiled a perfect 4-0 record and finished the season with a team-leading 2.33 ERA.

After his playing career, Johnson enlisted in the US Marine Corps in April of 1952 and served for 30 years until retiring in 1982. He earned numerous decorations, including the Legion of Merit with Gold Star and Combat V for Valor, the Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars for subsequent awards, the Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star and Combat V, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and the Navy-Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon.

Johnson had four children, Floyd III, Thomas, Frank and Laura. One of Johnson’s proudest moments was witnessing the 2021 Diamond Dawgs win the College World Series. He passed away on June 20, 2022.