Hall of Fame
Dr. Walter Johnson, Jr. is an educator, administrator, and visionary with a strong record of leadership in higher education. He was the Fayetteville State track coach from 1971 until  1976, and not only emphasized track fundamentals but academic achievement as well.
 Coach Johnson's track teams produced 42 individual CIAA champions in 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 100HH, 400ImH. His athletes produced 16 1st place finishes in relays; 12 1st  place finishes in individual events in the NAIA National championships in the 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 100HH, 400ImH; 3rd place National NAIA champions; NCAA All Americans in  "Division 1" competition and one United States' Olympic Team trials qualifier in the 100 and 200 meters.
 Coach Johnson established the first female track team at FSU, which credits to his commitment for gender equality and inclusivity. Coach Johnson currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Inner Banks STEM Center, a novel NC based science and technology nonprofit I (Alvin) formed in 2012.
In addition to his success as a mentor and coach, he was a remarkable student-athlete. He represented the United States in the U.S. Olympic team in 1964 and 1968 for track, and earned All-American status in track. Coach Johnson is also highly accomplished academically, with a PhD in Computer Science (a qualification only held by 300 Afro-Americans worldwide) from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Mathematics with a minor in Biology from North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina; Master of Arts in Teaching Certificate in Probability and Statistics
from Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; Master of Arts in Chemistry from Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia; and Master of Science in Computer Science from Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia.
While at Shaw University in Raleigh, NC and Fayetteville State University, Dr. Johnson served as Assistant to the President, served on the President's Executive Cabinet, the Quality Enhancement Plan Committee, the President's Advisory Committee, the Master Planning Committee, the Security Task Force, Director of Admissions and Records, Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affair, Director of International Exchange Programs, Director of Distance Learning, Assistant Athletic Director, and Teacher of the Year in mathematics and computer science.
Dr. Johnson is married to Elizabeth H. Johnson, a retired biology teacher and department chairman at Douglas Byrd High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and they have three sons, Walter, Eric, and Wayne.
