UFH: Dr. Joseph Johnson

[Brandon Martus]

Congratulations, Joe.

I'm not sure if Joe realizes it or not, but I wouldn't know nearly as much as I do about Internet-based programming and websites if it weren't for some of his e-mails back in the late 1990s. I had just started working on this website, and was teaching myself Perl, better HTML, and programming in general. Joe would send these massive 3-4 page e-mails with suggestions and improvements to the things I was building. The image gallery. The white papers area. The polls (anybody remember that old hunk of junk? hah). The Ventures system. He always had praise to give, but would never hesitate to throw out a crazy idea and additions he would like to see. Nine times out of ten I would look at this e-mail and think 'What in the world? Thats impossible.' But, after thinking about it, I would somehow find a way to implement what he wanted; I learned so much from all of the ideas he had.

I didn't get anything too challenging from my college professors, but Dr Joe always had something to keep me busy. I'm grateful for this. Anybody who likes how this website works, all of the features, its popularity, or anything .. you all owe Joe a big thank you. It wouldn't be anything without his direct (and indirect) influence.

Thank you Joe, and good luck with everything you're working on.

[Andy Grady]

There are not many people out there as passionate about FIRST as Dr. Joe is. He lives, breathes, speaks, and is the game. Every year he strives to help CD be the best, and at the same time tries to spread his knowledge around to everyone on these boards.

To another one of the original FIRST-a-holics...

Congrats Dr. Joe...FIRST would not be the same without you!

-Andy Grady

[Dorienne]

Most heartfelt Congratulations go to you, Dr. Johnson! I read your bio and I definitely am glad you won this honor. Well done!

[shyra1353]

Thank you so much for all your help, support, and advice last year. Congratulations just doesn't cut it.

-Shyra

[Swan217]

Even before I knew who he was, Dr. Joe was an inspiration to me personally. He is a shining example of what Team Spirit is, and even more so, the spirit of FIRST. He is always the one who pumps Chief Delphi up at competitions, who leads them in cheering, and even after Team 47 has been knocked out of the Eliminations, he and his team are still cheering. He has inspired me to be as spirited about FIRST as he is, and I hope that others are inspired as well.

Thank you, Joe Johnson!

[meaubry]

Congrats Joe,
This award is long overdue and so very well deserved. For many there is no I in TEAM, but there is one for ours. You, my friend, have been the Inspiration in our team. It's been a pleasure and an honor to work with you. You have given so much to this program, it can't possibly be told in a few words. Thankyou for everything.
Mike

[Raul]

It was hard or me to believe that Joe had not already been selected as an UFH. It is really very difficult to express all that Joe has done for FIRST. The very latest being the NBD implementation and white paper he inspired.

My very first memory (not the most vivid - Mike Martus already explained that one) about Dr Joe was when we started corresponding on the then new CD forum in 1997. The CD team was the only team to go to all 3 available regionals that year. I noticed that CD seeded higher and higher as they gained experience, so I asked Joe if he thought that going to multiple regionals was an advantage. I do not remember his exact answer, but I vaguely remember getting the impression from him that strategy was just as important as a good robot design. They proved that in the National finals against Beatty when they used a delay tactic to negate some of team Beatty's advantage of quickly capping with torroids. He inspired me to start think a lot more about strategy.

Well, I can go on forever about Joe, but I will stop now and conclude by saying that he is one of the most special people that I have gotten to know in the FIRST family of friends.

OK, one more - Joe, I do not mind playing the straight man for your gags, even if it gets me all wet!

Raul