Luckily for us, Sadie Galloway Johnson never believed that a black woman in the 1930s could not educate herself and have a proud and respected career. A champion for the right of women to participate in athletic activities, Johnson graduated from Pearl High School in 1932. She received a B.S. from Tennessee State University in 1936 and started her career at Pearl High as girls basketball coach in 1939. Johnson’s teams dominated in Middle Tennessee, winning eight district titles and three state championships. When she retired from coaching in 1953, she had amassed a remarkable record of 160-6-2! A brilliant woman who always strived to improve herself, Johnson pursued graduate study at five different universities, including Fisk and Columbia. Throughout the years, she taught business courses and physical education at Pearl High. Johnson also has a long association with Fisk University, going back to 1936 when she was secretary in the president’s office. She served in various associations during her career, including the Colored Secondary Schools Athletic Association, National Business Association, National Education Association, and the National Association of Retired Teachers. She was also a tireless worker in her community. Perhaps Sadie Galloway Johnson’s greatest legacy, however, can be seen in the achievements of her daughters. Sheryl is a chemist and Ruth is an attorney. Sadie obviously passed on to her children the attitude that, with hard work, confidence, and faith, a black woman can attain whatever goals she sets for herself.
