Bud Johnson, Director of the Andonie Museum

Bud Johnson

Bud Johnson was born in New Orleans and graduated from Southeastern Louisiana College. He was formerly the LSU Sports Information Director from 1966-1971, during which time, he witnessed the Pete Maravich era. Prior that that, Johnson was hired as Assistant Sports Publicity Director on February 1, 1958, which was just in time for the national championship season. During his career, Johnson promoted ten All-America selections at LSU, including George Bevan, Mike Anderson, Ronnie Estay, Tommy Casanova and Pete Maravich, and one national coach of the year, Charles McClendon. Johnson’s LSU Football Magazine won COSIDA's (College Sports Information Directors Association) national award for excellence in 1969. Johnson also authored a chapter in the NCAA Public Relations Manual on game programs, and served as president of SEC Sports Publicity Director's Association.

Johnson left LSU in November of 1971 to serve in a public relations capacity for a major airline, and served as public relations director for the New Orleans Jazz when the NBA granted an expansion franchise to New Orleans. He was assistant athletic director at Tulane, initiating the first effort in sports marketing for that institution. Johnson received the Louisiana Sports Writer's Association's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.

Johnson is currently the Director of the Jack & Priscilla Andonie Museum, whose mission it is to tell the story of LSU Athletics , and is the author of The Perfect Season—LSU’s Magic Year—1958.

Johnson’s interview is housed in the T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History at LSU Libraries Special Collections. Johnson, Bud, interview by Emily Nemens, audio recording, 2013, 4700.2353. Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.