2010-11 Women's Basketball Media Guide - University of Denver ...

IN LOVING MEMORY OF DAVIS JOHNSON
On the morning of May 6, DU women’s basketball head coach Erik Johnson and his wife Laura, along with their
daughters Daly and Avery, unexpectedly lost their son Davis Johnson at the young age of four. Davis’ smile could light
up a room and his positive energy was infectious. In honor of his memory, the DU women’s basketball team and the
Johnson family would like to share some of their fondest memories of Davis Johnson.
Davis was a special part of our basketball family. He was one of the happiest people
I have ever been around. I don’t think I have ever been around him at any time
where he didn’t smile at least once. I feel blessed to have been a part of his life, and
he taught me that even though basketball and life can be tough, a day without a
smile is a day wasted. Davis was living proof that a smile is contagious, because when
he walked in the gym to see “the girls” and his dad at practice he always brightened
up the room. He will always be missed, but this year every win is for him.
- Britteni Rice
Davis was a great kid that brought smiles to everyone that met him.
He was an entertainer without effort. One of my favorite memories of
him was how excited he got on game days. He was always the first one
down in line to give us high fives when we came back on the court for
the last seven minutes of our warm-up. Also, every time our intro song
came on I always looked up to see him dancing to high school musical
or whatever song was on our highlight film for that year. After games
his main priority was to break the huddle down with us in the locker
room, he stood on one of the chairs so his arm could reach the stack of
hands above him.
- Brianna Culberson
Davis as a person is indescribable. In such a short amount of time he had such a profound impact on
everyone, it still amazes me how such a young kid touched so many lives. The attitude that Davis had
towards life and his willingness to embrace anything and everything was contagious. No matter how
hard a practice was it seemed I still had the energy to chase him around the gym afterward. He was
absolutely irresistible. I could always count on a good Davis quote every time I babysat. One of my
favorite Davis stories was his third birthday. He had a birthday party and only invited “the girls.” Even
though Coach Johnson told us not to, Britteni and I got him a High School Musical microphone he could
sing along with. That same birthday he got a big manly toy truck but he only wanted to play and sing
along with his new microphone (which of course Coach Johnson just loved).
- Abbey Leichliter
2 www.DenverPioneers.com