UCLA Men's Tennis: Member Of NCAA Title Team Passes Away

Former UCLA Bruins star tennis player Franklin Johnson sadly passed away on September 15th, per a UCLA press statement.

Johnson suited up for the Bruins' tennis program from 1956-58 under head coach J.D. Morgan, winning the 1956 NCAA championship in '56. During his tenure at UCLA, Johnson also earned his Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and a Master's.

He served as a president of the Southern California Tennis Association (and was subsequently named to the SCTA's Hall of Fame in 2011), and as the tournament chair of the annual Los Angeles Open from 1984-2012.

Former tournament director of the LA Open Bob Kramer penned an informative tribute to Johnson:

"Born in Oakland, Calif., Frank Johnson was a champion tennis player, and was the winner of four USTA National Championships, NCAA Championships at UCLA, and was in 2011, inducted into the SCTA Hall of Fame with Billie Jean King. In 2016, he received the Section's Henry Talbert Lifetime Achievement Award and was actively serving as a Board Member for the SCTA Foundation," Kramer wrote in part.

"Frank Johnson will always be remembered for his strong leadership skills, business acumen, humility, kindness, warm smile, and ability to bring people together. Rest in Peace Frank Johnson, a man who we loved and who served so well."

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