New Mexico State University (NMSU) chemical engineering professor and former NFL quarterback Charles Lane “Charley” Johnson passed away at the age of 85 on September 3 at his home in Las Cruces.
“I admire Dr. Charley Johnson’s lasting impact on NMSU. From NFL star to professor and department head, his dedication to education and our NMSU community at large will always inspire. Dr. Johnson will be greatly missed, but his legacy will certainly continue,” interim Dean of Engineering David Jauregui said.
Johnson once described his decision to pursue engineering while digging ditches one summer.
“A man pulled up in a pickup truck and he got out and wrote a few things down,” Johnson said. “When he left, I asked my friend ‘what was that,’ and he told me that was an engineer. I said, ‘That’s what I want to be.’”
Johnson, a native of Big Spring, Texas, achieved that goal when he graduated from NMSU with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 1961. That same year he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals to play NFL football.
In addition to his NFL career, Johnson pursued master’s and doctoral degrees at Washington University in St. Louis while managing both studies and football practice. His professional football career spanned 15 years with teams including the St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Oilers, and Denver Broncos.
A member of NMSU’s Army ROTC, Johnson was called to duty in 1967 and worked with NASA as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve. After his military service and football career, Johnson returned to NMSU to teach chemical engineering and later served as department head from 2000 to 2004.
One of Johnson's fondest memories was leading the Aggies as quarterback during their undefeated 1960 season which included a win against the University of Texas at El Paso.
Despite his NFL background, few students were aware of it during his tenure as a professor.
Johnson advised students aspiring for careers beyond education: “Stay in school and get your degree. An education will come in handy.”
Current faculty member Associate Professor Paul Andersen recalled: “He didn’t bring the football rah-rah leadership to academia but provided steady low-key leadership for the department.”
“Charley touched my life first in childhood as a football idol, next as a young professional as my boss and colleague, and finally in retirement as a friend and confidante,” said former Department Head David Rockstraw. “When I interviewed Charley for the department head position in 1999, I handed him a football and a sharpie and asked for his autograph in case he did not get the job."
Rockstraw added: “Charley lived his dream and spent the later years of his life helping others make theirs come true... Charley was a big part of my personal and professional lives.”
Johnson retired from NMSU in May 2012; during spring commencement ceremonies in 2016, he received an Honorary Doctorate from NMSU. He continued supporting Aggie initiatives until his passing.
Further details about Johnson's football career can be found [here](https://nmstatesports.com/news/2024/9/4/football-aggie-legend-charley-johnson-passes-at-85-years-old.aspx), while [his obituary is available here](https://www.lcsun-news.com/obituaries/paco0934276).