Letter: Farewell to football number that truly defines our family

The RFHS football season is winding down, and with it a legacy of jersey #62.

My late brother Joe wore #62 on the River Falls High School football team beginning as a junior in 1977.

My brother Peter inherited it from Joey, and then brother Matt from Peter.

A short gap before brother Pat wore it and then youngest brother Sam wore it until graduating in 1993.

A much longer gap until nephew Jake sought the reputable #62 jersey in 2005. Jake wore it until graduating and handing it over to his brother Luke. After Luke wore it in the North-South All-star game in 2009, he passed it on to his youngest brother Ellis.

Ellis graduated in May 2012, yet this is the final year of #62 in the Johnson family with Mitchell Cowley rounding out the legacy this fall.

A “shout-out” to the RFHS football program and coaches for the past 35 years (Wunrow, Carroll, Forster, Bennett, Wolf) and especially to my brothers and nephews.

Goodbye #62…thanks for the memories.

Tags: opinion, letters, family, football