'THE LANE' IS OPEN | State-of-the-art lifting facility for KC athletes opens at PFC

Mar. 6—When Groveton native Lane Johnson was a student athlete at Kilgore College in 2007, he was a tall kid, thin as a rail, seen around campus wearing flip-flops and usually a bag on his back.

"And cut-off jean shorts," Johnson laughed, as he talked with the Kilgore News Herald on Thursday.

You might say Lane Johnson has came a long way since then: not only is he considerably bigger, but his travels took him to the University of Oklahoma, two position changes until he finally became an offensive lineman, the fourth overall pick of the 2013 NFL Draft, and one of the league's premier tackles and a Super Bowl-winner with the Philadelphia Eagles.

And now, Johnson says it's time for payback.

Johnson and local businessman Mike Clements were on hand Thursday for the opening of Kilgore College's new weightlifting facility — actually, it feels weak calling it a "facility." It's more like a palace, opened in the Parks Fitness Center on campus, and made possible by a $500,000 donation by Johnson, as well as monies from Clements, a former student who regularly contributes generously to KC.

The ribbon-cutting of the weight room, known as "The Lane," saw KC President Dr. Brenda Kays and Athletic Director Jimmy Rieves welcome plenty of other guests, as well, including current coaches, former head football coach J.J. Eckert, former KC, University of Miami and NFL tight end Chase Ford, one of Johnson's good friends, as well as members of the college's board of trustees and local media, and Kilgore Mayor Ronnie Spradlin, who read a proclamation where the city declared Thursday, March 4, 2021 "Lane Johnson Day" in honor of Johnson's spectacular contribution.

"This is a monumental day," Kays said, with Johnson, Rieves and Clements all to her right, moments before the ribbon was cut by Johnson. "We would not be standing here today if it weren't for the incredible generosity of our guests, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Clements, who was also very instrumental in this project."

The new facility is 3,800 square feet, transforming a former mostly-unused locker room and dressing area into what the college referred to, somewhat understatedly, as a state-of-the-art weight and training equipment room for use by all four sports at KC: football, basketball and softball.

KC Public Information Director Chris Craddock said Johnson's donation was one of the largest gifts ever presented to the college as a single donation to the athletic department.

Rieves, who thanked a ton of people, including Riley Harris Construction for their work and Power Lift for the quality equipment, said one of the biggest things the new area will allow, one of the biggest problems it will solve, is scheduling difficulties that were always in place before.

"It sounds simple," Rieves said, "but it drove us crazy trying to schedule workout times (between the four sports). This is a need we've had for honestly about 25 years."

So Rieves and KC head football coach Willie Gooden, with an assist from Clements, flew to Philadelphia to visit with Johnson, who made it clear he wanted to do something to give back to Kilgore College.

Rieves talked about an elaborate presentation he and Gooden had ready — one that didn't get used.

"We told him what we were thinking about doing, and he just said, 'OK, let's do it,'" Rieves recalled. "I had a power point and everything and didn't even use it."

Rieves' tone changed as he explained how thankful he and the KC community are to Johnson (and to Clements) for the completion of the new facility.

"Lane didn't want this named for him," Rieves said. "He wanted it to represent all the athletes who have came through here, who give their all to this college. I insisted we call it 'The Lane' as a tribute to him. ...This is something that came together as an effort by a lot of people — it takes a community to do something like this."

The infancy of the idea for "The Lane" began years ago, Johnson said — in the back of his mind.

"When I graduated from Groveton," Johnson said, "I had one (college) offer. And even though I wasn't a great player here, I worked. I worked hard. ...I've had a lot of failures in my career, a lot of struggles, and some successes. I never did quit. Anytime I faced challenges, I kept pushing ahead. And what I'm most proud of, is that I've had this dream for a long, long time, and it's finally here."

Johnson was a quarterback and then tight end during his time at KC in 2008, under then-coach Eckert, with Gooden as an assistant coach. But he was only at KC a short time: he transferred on to the University of Oklahoma, under coach Bob Stoops. He redshirted in 2009, bulked up and played tight end and defensive end in 2010, and then was moved by the OU coaching staff to offensive tackle in 2011.

Boy, did that ever pay off.

Johnson exceled at the position, playing right tackle that first season, and then left tackle as a senior in 2012. He earned All-American and All-Big 12 status, and so impressed NFL scouts that the Eagles made him the fourth overall pick of the draft the following April, 2013.

His career has soared since then, becoming one of the NFL's best tackles and helping the Eagles win their first-ever Super Bowl championship at the end of the 2017 season, with a win in the big game over Tom Brady's New England Patriots.

Johnson knows how blessed he's been. And now he wants to help others.

"I wanted to pay it forward," he said, as guests toured The Lane. "I wanted to give back. So proud it's here, glad it's here and finally done, and can't wait for the kids to get in here and work."

Asked about his own career, Johnson noted he has four years left on his deal with the Eagles. "I plan to play those out, and who knows after that? I might end up coming back and coaching around here. My heart is here, helping the people who helped me."