‘Losing Mr. Sycamore:’ Spartan Football Coach Pete Johnson’s legacy lives on

SYCAMORE – Joe Ryan described the death of former coach Peter “Pete” Johnson, who passed away peacefully on Aug. 19 in his home, as “losing Mr. Sycamore.”

Johnson was 98.

Ryan, Sycamore High School’s head football coach, said “although many people know him as the all-time winningest coach in Sycamore Schools’ history, he was a great ambassador to our community.”

“Pete never met a stranger. He was friendly, open and engaging with everyone,” Ryan said. “He was my close friend and a mentor. It’s hard to find an aspect of town that he didn’t have something to do with. He was involved and active because he cared.”

Johnson was born in Sycamore Hospital on November 18, 1922, and lived in and was active in the Sycamore community his entire life.

He was in education for 49 years, including 34 years in the Sycamore Schools as a teacher, coach, athletic director, adult education director, vocational educational director, assistant principal and principal.

He coached the Sycamore High School Varsity football team for 17 years. His teams won more than 80% of their games with 10 conference championships, eight undefeated seasons and a 33-game winning streak.

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Tribute to Heroes honoree Pete Johnson, of Sycamore, smiles while being introduced by friend Don Clayberg on Thursday at Kishwaukee College during the 12th Annual DeKalb County Tribute to Heroes program put on by the DeKalb County Boy Scouts of America. Johnson was one of four groups who demonstrated exceptional, selfless community service, honored. (Danielle Guerra)

RoseMarie Treml, the executive director of the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce, said Johnson was “so much more than a football coach and athletic director.”

Johnson participated on the committees to build the YMCA and the Sycamore Veterans Home, and was a member of CASA (court appointed special advocate for children in DeKalb County). He also served as charter president for the Jaycees and Rotary President. His community memberships included the United Methodist Church, Chamber of Commerce, VFW, American Legion and the Elks.

His Sycamore community honors include the Clifford Danielson Award by the Chamber of Commerce, 1963 Man of the Year and Pumpkin Parade Grand Marshall.

In 1982, Johnson was honored as Northern Illinois University alumnus of the year. In 1968, he was selected Illinois football coach of the year. In 1977, Johnson was named to the first class of the Illinois Football Coaches Association hall of fame.

“He gave so much of himself to our community,” Treml said. “He really cared about Sycamore. He was passionate for Sycamore, every aspect of it: civic groups, schools, business, athletics. A lot of the time, a person is involved in one aspect, but he did it all. You don’t see people as well-rounded as he was, so involved and caring.”

Treml said she is “sad for those who [never] met him, because he gave so much of himself to our community.”

“He truly touched all of Sycamore in some way or another, and he will certainly be missed,” Treml said. “Pete is one in a million, and we will most definitely miss him. Everyone always talks about celebrating life. Well, I think we as a community have to celebrate his wonderful and exceptional life, which touched many of our lives.”

Ryan said that the best way to honor Johnson is “to do what he did.”

“It’s our job now to get involved and care about our community the way he did,” Ryan said. “He knew how to get a team ready to play and be successful. He influenced not only football players in Sycamore, but people around the country. Now we have to carry his influence and legacy on. We have to carry his love of Sycamore forward.”

For Johnson’s full obituary, visit www.butalafuneralhomes.com/obituary/peter-johnson.

Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 10 to 11 a.m. Friday. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Friday. Both visitations and the memorial service will be held at the Sycamore United Methodist Church, 160 Johnson Ave. in Sycamore. Masks are required.

Burial will be held immediately following the memorial service at Elmwood Cemetery. A celebration of life will be at St. Mary’s Hall in Sycamore after the burial.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Pete Johnson’s honor may be sent to the Peter L. Johnson Fund via the DeKalb County Community Foundation, 475 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, Illinois 60178.