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- Lozzilaire Johnson Worked in youth sports leagues
Lozzilaire Johnson, 82, of Niagara Avenue, a pipefitter at the Olin Corp. for 47 years and prominent in local sports circles, died in Niagara Falls Memorial. Medical Center Friday (March 7,1986). Born in Perry, S.C., he came to Niagara Falls in 1920. He retired from Olin in 1969. Johnson was a longtime basketball and baseball manager and official. He organized leagues in the Echota area and developed children's leagues through schools and churches. Johnson managed the Olin baseball team for 17 years and played with Olin, Essex, Echota, Niagara Wall Paper and All-Niagara teams. He also managed Echota, Lewiston and Youngstown baseball teams and for years coached teams in the Municipal Basketball League, winning titles in 1938 and 1939. Johnson was president of the Niagara Falls MUNY Football League and was president of the Double-Eye Baseball League for two years. He served on the advisory board of the City Recreation Commission for 11 years and ran city Recreation Department night league games at Niagara Falls schools. He was a charter member of the Niagara Rapids Athletic Club. He was also former director of the Retired Men's Service Club and was honored at an Old Timers' Picnic. He was a member of the Olin Retirees, a member of the LaSalle Lodge N6. 1049 F&AM, and a member of the Senior Citizens of St. James United Methodist Church. He was winner of the Fabulous 40's sportsman award in 1973 and won the Church Baseball League's meritorious award. The Johnson and (Jack) Langley Baseball League was named after him. Langley, former president of the Niagara Falls Pirates, who worked with Johnson in baseball programs for years, called him "a wonderful guy who really loved baseball. "He wanted the kids to be taken care of. That was his first thought, take care of the little boys growing up. Everybody loved him for that," said Langley. Langley said Johnson was a good teacher who produced many of the area's top baseball players. He was the husband of the late Amy Ella Johnson and is survived by a daughter, Shirley M. Johnson of Niagara Falls; a son, William J. Johnson of Barrington, Ill.; and two grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Christine Heuer. A service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at the Otto Redanz Funeral Home, Michigan Avenue and 10th, Street. The Rev. Arthur O. Northrup will officiate. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Members of the LaSalle Lodge No. 1049, F&AM, will conduct a service Sunday at 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Contributions to St. James United Methodist Church or the Niagara Oncology Association are acceptable as tribute.
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1904 - 1986 (82 years)