Ron Burton recalls not knowing much about Jay Johnson when they first met among the large number of kids arriving for pickup games at Glenfield and Nishuane parks where football and basketball games were quite prevalent in the late 1950’s for then future 60’s era Montclair Mounties learning the ropes as young teens on the rise.
Fairly soon; however, it was known which powerful and athletic player to try and pick for any team one was starting up for the day.
“We called Jay ‘Zeus’ because even back then he was like a man among boys,” recalls Burton, one of the stars along with Johnson on the memorable 1964 Montclair football team, considered by many to be the school’s best squad in its rich football annals. “As young guys playing pickup games, which we did all time, you knew if you wanted to win, you hoped to get Jay on your team, that’s for sure!
“He was a man among boys and had strength, determination and simply a fierce competitive spirit; but, after the game, he was nicest guy you could find.”
Jay Johnson, who along with Burton and Dave Johnson (no relation) earned all-state honors on the 9-0 No. 1 ranked Mounties team of ’64, passed away almost exactly seven years ago on July 17, 2019 at the age of 73. At the time he was the sixth of the 11 starters on that squad who had gone to that big blue football field up above.
“It hits you hard and you think about those guys every day,” said Burton. “Having to say goodbye to Jay simply once again made me remember all my teammates who are no longer with us.”
Johnson was a terrific two-way end and as a pass receiver was one of quarterback Burton’s favorite targets on that ultra-talented ’64 gridiron squad coached by the noted ‘Braintrust’ of head coach Clary Anderson and his longtime assistant Butch Fortunato. In fact, the ’64 season marked Anderson and Fortunato’s silver anniversary of ‘The Braintrust’ guiding the heralded gridiron program as Clary came aboard at the helm of his alma mater in 1940 after beginning his coaching career at Blair Academy.
“It was a special team and an incredible season to be a part of,” said Burton, who went on to play at Colgate. “We had great coaches and the players assembled that season were truly an exceptional group of multi-talented people.”
“Jay certainly was as determined to succeed in football as anyone I ever knew.”
Johnson went on to play at East Texas State (now Texas A&M at Commerce) where he played with noted stars as Dwight White, Rich Houston, Chad Brown and Sam Walton.
Johnson became good friends with White, a defensive end who became a big part of the famed ‘Steel Curtain’ for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Houston, who went on to play for the Giants.
Walton would become a rookie tackle with the Super Bowl champion Jets in 1969.
The former Mountie end would earn a key role on the defensive unit for the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that also featured another great Essex County product, Nutley’s Ben Hawkins (Arizona State). Johnson started at linebacker for a portion of the 1969 NFL season before he suffered a significant knee injury when he was hit by end Jackie Smith on what is now considered an illegal crackback block.
He tried to return the next season; however, his knee was never the same and he was eventually forced to retire.
Johnson eventually moved with his wife to Irvington where they raised their family and he worked in a variety of jobs in his post-football-playing life.
Many of the Mounties on that ’64 team stayed in touch and some became close friends, like Burton and Johnson, who were seeing each other regularly right up until the time of the passing of ‘Zeus,’ who had some heart issues.
The man who personified the symbols of strength of the Greek God Zeus, such as ‘Thunderbolt,’ ‘Eagle,’ ‘bull’ and ‘oak,’ is now gone from this earth for seven years, but he will always remain an indelible part of the rich Mountie football annals, which is based in the heyday of ‘The Braintrust’s long tenure together.
Montclair’s storied football history under Clary and Butch included nine undefeated teams, 10 state titles and 12 sectional crowns along with a record of 187-24.
While the undefeated 1952 and 1956 teams receive many deserved endorsements as being perhaps the best Montclair football team of all time, the ’64 squad is pointed to as much as any squad as being ‘the best,’ although when asked to pick the best MHS team during a 1992 interview, Fortunato refused to do so.
The 1956 squad had standouts such as QB Ray Festa, end Tony Carnevale and the Haines twins- Richard and Robert – at running back, and were certainly an exceptional squad.
The ’64 team featured Burton at QB, Jay Johnson and Dean Taylor at the ends, John Tyson and Garvie Craw at halfback, Bill Wood at fullback, Dave Johnson and Ken Newsome at tackle Frank Brittain (West Point) and Bruce Taylor at the guards (with Billy Swann as an excellent backup) and John Harney at center.
Tyson, Craw, Wood, Newsome, Harney and Oliver M. ‘Jay’ Johnson have all passed away.
In addition to being first-team all-state in football, Johnson was All-County in basketball at a time when Newark schools dominated the sport, and he was also an All-County hurdles champion in track and field.
But, it was in the sport of football where he will be remembered for eternity in Mountie history.
“At 6-2 ½ and 200 pounds, he was a devastating 2-way football player without a peer,” said Burton. “He was the most determined person I have ever met, and with a huge heart.
“A great human being who is sorely missed!”
Follow Steve Tober on 'X' @Chattermeister
