James "Harvey" Johnson is a graduate of both Sheffield High School and Mississippi State University.  Johnson earned six letters in football and baseball from 1938-1941.  He was awarded the State's Outstanding Athlete Award for 1940-1941 as well as the Southeastern Conference Scoring Crown in 1939.  He was a member of the 1940 All-American Football Team and was named MVP of the 1940 Orange Bowl.  He was also named Outstanding Player in the College All-Star Football game that same year. 

 

Mr. Johnson was a captain in the United States Air Force and was killed in WWII while flying a B-17 over the pacific.

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He is an inductee of the Mississippi State Hall of Fame.