prayers sent,Longhorn great Johnny "Lam" Jones has apparently been placed in hospice. One of my all time favorites.
I was at the state track meet in 1976. Johnny Jones anchor leg was the most amazing 1/4 mile I've ever seen.
I think I may have been at that SMU game when Johnny Lam Jones ran back that kick. I was real young then, when was that, 78'? May have been a different game but I saw him run one back. I was in elementary school. May have been the fastest Longhorn I have seen. Jamaal Charles and Eric Metcalf were not far behind but Johnny Lam Jones was probably the fastest. Prayers to him and his family.
AC, Lam was the fastest Horn ever. Wayne Johnson was the second fastest ever. I believe the next two are Tony Jones and Herkie Walls.
He has slipped the surly bonds and is now cancer free.........RIP Lam you were a true Longhorn legend. Texas Legacy Support Network Group
Great athlete Great human being Great Longhorn Thanks, Johnny, for always being a Longhorn & always being a class representative of The University and our program.
From the facebook page that Billy Dale started......... March 15, Friends, Johnny “Lam” Jones, one of the greatest athletes ever to grace the 40 Acres, passed away this morning after defying the doctors’ prognosis for almost 15 years. Diagnosed with stage-four multiple myeloma in 2005, he was given little chance of survival, but like the champion he was, he emerged from this ordeal a better man, determined to spend every minute of his remaining years serving others. We have established a “Johnny ‘Lam’ Jones Memorial Fund” to help Johnny’s family cover funeral and burial expenses. Details for donating to this fund are at the bottom of this letter. Johnny was a household name long before he arrived on campus to play football for Darrell Royal and Fred Akers. In the 1976 Texas State track meet, he put on a running display so epic, people still get goosebumps telling the story of the moment when, with the state championship on the line, and his mile relay team in 7th place, Jones took the baton 40 yards behind the 6th place runner. The crowd erupted into a frenzied roar as he rounded the final turn. Johnny had advanced to fourth place. Then, he found an opening in the inside lane and with a final burst of speed, crossed the finish line….in first place. It was the greatest track performance ever by a Texas high school athlete, and it came to define his life. He went on to earn an Olympic gold medal. He led the 1977, 1978, and 1979 Longhorns in receptions. As a freshman at Texas, he won the 100 meters with a hand-timed 9.85 seconds. He was a first-round draft choice of the New York Jets, and his $ 2.1 million contract was the first in the NFL worth over a million dollars. Then, he crashed and burned, due to injuries and drug and alcohol abuse. In 1990, he got sober and dedicated his time and his money to helping kids avoid the problems he had encountered with drugs and alcohol. This kind, gentle soul inspired us and gave us thrills; he filled us with pride. We applauded him when he was riding high and was famous. It’s now time to repay him and to honor his contributions to us, to The University, to athletics, and to the youth of Texas. Please consider donating to the Johnny “Lam” Jones Memorial Fund, which will cover his funeral and burial expenses. You can send donations to: Johnny “Lam” Jones Memorial Fund 3112 Windsor Road Box 322 Austin, Texas 78703 Thank you for honoring this legend and our friend. Hook ‘em, Lawrence Sampleton Alfred Jackson Randy McEachern Steve Massey Donnie Little Raymond Clayborn
RIP When I was a freshman I ran into “Lam” at the the elevator of the PCL. I started smiling because I had just run into an Olympian who played football for UT. He started laughing and said to his friends “oh man, she is laughing at my shoes.” His friends started laughing and I said “no no.” They were pink furry slides and they were spectacular. Thank you Mr Jones for all you did.
Will never forget him winning the gold medal in the 400 meter relays at the Olympics. Great memory. RIP.
"The crowd erupted into a frenzied roar as he rounded the final turn. Johnny had advanced to fourth place. Then, he found an opening in the inside lane and with a final burst of speed, crossed the finish line….in first place." There was a heavenly roar that was even louder when Lam made his final turn and crossed the finish line for life..... in first place.
THANKS, for posting this of Pam Berkhalter….she was cheerleader that year after me. What a tumbler!!! She brought the team on the field at the 1977 TEXAS/o.u. game and tumbled from goal line to goal line...Keith Jackson's reaction...."whoa! don't think you don't have to be in some sort of shape to do that!!!"...I was fortunate enough to stunt with her at one of our re-unions in the '90's....I had just watched her compete on ESPN a couple of months before....she is an exceptional athlete....and a sweet lady....so glad to have this tape!!!
Lam and I were friends. He would always offer to buy me and my friends a “Coke” at The Keg. He’d say, “You girls want a Coke?” And he’d come back with a tray of Rum 151 and Coke. As astonishing as his athletic ability was — and it WAS other-worldly — what I will always remember about Lam is that he treated everybody with kindness. He was nice to everyone and had such a humble nature. The world just lost a really good guy.
I was the student director of the play “Vanities” in the Department of Speech Communication. I needed someone to come teach our cast a couple of cheers. Pam graciously offered her time and talent. She also was the first to try a reverse in our Springboard Diving class. I always admired and liked her.
That was the last KR for a TD that we had until Victor Ike did it against Oregon in the Holiday Bowl.