Duane Johnson

Duane Johnson epitomized dedication and effort  for the past 33 years in his unwavering support for athletics at Hastings College.  Since his arrival at Hastings College (on an athletic scholarship) he has remained actively involved with every aspect of college sports.  First as a bandsman in the college marching and pep bands, then as director of all of the college bands, and finally as a college recruiter of students - many of whom were student athletes.  Duane is a walking advertisement for our college and is always ont he lookout for prospective students.

A school's athletic tradition is based on a myriad of different facets.  Memories of victories and heartbreaking losses provide a corporate memory of those events, which is the substance of tradition.  The atmosphere, the thrills and excitement at athletic events is generated and maintained in no small measure by the band, the cheerleaders, and other non-competing attendees.  The success of the band director then, adds or detracts fromt he memory of the success of the event.  Duane was very successful in this regard.  Hundreds of hundreds of alumni see him as the direct connection with their alma  mater.