Demetrious Johnson is a native St. Louisan who grew up in the Darst-Webbe Housing Project.  He was the youngest of eight children and was raised by a single parent.  With the odds against him, Johnson was able to stay focused and graduate from McKinley High School, and earned a full athletic scholarship to attend the University of Missouri, Columbia. 

During his years at Columbia, Johnson was recognized as a premier defensive back, including Big 8 All Star.  Johnson graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education with a major in Counseling Psychology.  Upon graduation, the Detroit Lions drafted Johnson. 

Johnson’s professional football career lasted seven years.  During his career, Johnson was the Lion’s defensive captain and earned numerous awards, including Player of the Week.  Johnson ended his professional football career with the San Diego Chargers in 1990. 

Following his retirement from pro football, Johnson joined Sherwood Medical Company, which is now Covidien, as the National Sales Manager for the Athletic Sports Medicine Division. 

Understanding the importance of the community recreation center during his childhood, Johnson started exploring ways to give back to his community.  With a deep desire to encourage and support underprivileged children to reach their potential, Johnson founded the Demetrious Johnson Charitable Foundation, Inc.  The Foundation’s motto is, “Helping today’s youth towards a better tomorrow.”  Its mission is to help better the lives of inner-city youth by providing mentoring, financial, vocational/tutorial and scholastic assistance programs. 

The Foundation’s annual Hoops & Huddles fundraiser classic has been able to meet the needs of St. Louis inner-city youth for the past twelve years.  The Foundation feeds over one thousand less fortunate families for Thanksgiving, and for Christmas provides over one thousand children with dream toys.  Each year the Foundation gives five academic scholarships to help students further their education.  The Foundation has partnered with City TV 10 and Charter Communications to host a communications academy in which students produce, direct, edit, and video the Demetrious Johnson Sportswave TV Talk Show. 

Johnson remains active in many local and civic organizations and is a frequent motivational speaker.  His other commitments include high school football and basketball commentator for Charter Communications, host of Sportswave television talk show for Charter and host of the Demetrious Johnson Talk Show on HOT 104.1 FM. 

Johnson married his high school sweetheart, Patricia, and has three lovely daughters: Ashley, Taylore, and Alexandria.