PCC Football’s Johnson Receives Pasadena Elks Lodge Scholarship After Fortuitous Find of Lost Wallet

Student-athletes have often endured some often unfair stereotypes at the community college level, especially football players. But Pasadena City College’s Anthony Johnson exemplified a different role–that of good Samaritan.

Last summer, Johnson rode a local Metro train and found a wallet with a large amount of cash as well as credit cards and important personal information. Johnson went out of his way to find the wallet’s owner and returned it intact. The owner, Dr. Bill Cole, who lost the wallet on the train after riding home from a Dodgers game, just happened to be the scholarship chairman for Pasadena Elks Lodge #672.

Dr. Cole passed away late last year, prompting the Elks Lodge to introduce a new scholarship, the “Dr. Bill Cole Award For Outstanding Leadership.”

On Tuesday, Johnson was awarded the prestigious scholarship.

Johnson, who played one season for the Lancers, could not be present to accept the award in person as he is now attending Kent State University (Ohio) for his sophomore playing season in 2015. PCC assistant coach Mike Garza attended the ceremony on behalf of Johnson and the college.

“We’re really proud of Anthony,” said PCC Athletic Director Tony Barbone. “There’s a reason why he was able to transfer to a NCAA Division I university. He was a good player for us, but a better student and person. Others may not have done what he did for a stranger. Anthony is the epitome of what we would strive to achieve with Pasadena City College student-athletes.”

Originally from Washington High in Miami, Florida, Johnson played linebacker for the Lancers and made 27 tackles, recording three sacks and two fumble recoveries during the 2014 season.

[Photo–Anthony Johnson (6) in action during a PCC football game last September.]