ridecamp@endurance.net: A celebration of Life--Lawton Johnston

A celebration of Life--Lawton Johnston

Samm C Bartee (bartesc@mail.auburn.edu)
Wed, 2 Apr 1997 16:56:12 -0600 (CST)

On March 22nd, a group of endurance people gathered to show their
admiration and to honor Lawton Johnston, a Granitville SC resident,
who has been making his dent in the endurance communtiy as well as his SC
community for a long time.
Lawton is honored and revered among many people. He is one of the
kindest most wonderful gentlemen I have ever competed with or against!!
He was nominated for induction into the AERC's Hall of Fame, by Joe
Edwards an admirer from Raleigh NC. The committee saw fit to honor Lawton
and since he couldn't be in Reno for the occasion due to his wife Francis
having some health problems, a whole bunch of us showed up near
Graniteville SC to eat some fabulous BBQ, hob nob with some great
endurance riders, past, present, and future, and to Honor this wonderful
man and his long enduring wife!!

It started off with the introduction of everyone, where they were from,
and a little story about Lawton if you were so inclined!! Many were very
inclined!! Some stories were hilarious, some were
nostalgic, and some were just, well, just Lawton!!
We saw the video where his letter of nomination was read, and the awarding
of his plaque to Susan Kasemeyer and Danny Herlong. Since Lawton couldn't
be there, these two graciously agreed to receive it.
Susan was doubly honored to receive the Pardners award, and good thing
too, she got all her crying out of the way before she went to get
Lawton's Hall of Fame plaque---We got to see that on video as well!!

The plaque is beautiful, with the letter from Joe Edwards inscribed on the
front, the day was beautiful with so many people able to show up and show
their support for a man who has done so much to enhance this sport and to
make it what it is today, and the memories will be beautiful as we gather
around the campfire to discuss the meaning of endurance life!

Lawton and Miss Francis are truely what this sport is all about, and it's
because of people like them that this sport is where it is today. Thanks
guys for being there, for sharing, and for providing us with the help, the
encouragement, and the support we need to keep trotting on down that
endurance trail!!

APPY TRAILS

SAMM C. BARTEE
Auburn, Al. SE Region
with
SIR REVEL--1305 miles and........!!!
B JETS WAR EAGLE--endurance wannabe

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