Logan Johnson, who graduated from William Byrd High School in 2015, has received a great honor from the University of Virginia football team.
He was named as the UVA Football Thursday Hero for April 5. The presentation was made after spring practice last Thursday with the team, UVA head coach Bronco Mendenhall, and Logan’s family on hand.
According to the video that UVA created to recognize him, Logan suffered a spinal cord injury during his delivery that has left him paralyzed from the neck down since birth. Now 20 years old, “he lives each day with a big smile on his face, even though he cannot speak. Logan loves movies, music, computers, and the Hoos! He enjoys life.”
Each Thursday during spring football practice and the regular fall season, a fan is recognized as the Thursday Hero, generally one “who has overcome a tragedy or difficult time.”
Along with the honor, Logan received a UVA jersey (#1) autographed by the team with his name on it and several other UVA gift items. His mother got to sign the team flag that is carried to every game.
Logan’s parents are Mark and Mitzi West Johnson of Vinton. He has two brothers, Luke, who graduated from WBHS in 2017, and Landon, who is currently a sophomore there.
His mother says that the entire Johnson family has always been “big Wahoo fans” and season football ticket holders. Logan has also undergone major surgeries at the University of Virginia, which makes the school close to their hearts.
Logan and his family also follow UVA basketball and baseball. UVA star basketball players Jack Salt and Kyle Guy, whose team recently won the ACC Championship, have paid Logan a surprise visit.
Mitzi Johnson says this was an “honor for Logan to be recognized as the UVA Thursday Football Hero; the family feels truly blessed for Logan to be recognized by his favorite team.” She says the team “went all out for Logan” and that the presentation was “very heartwarming.”
Johnson says that any Wahoo football fans are invited to join the UVA FANS Facebook group, which now has about 7,500 members. Logan was nominated for the Thursday Hero honor by one of those Facebook fans.
