University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame
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Oscar "Swede" Johnson 1923 - Football, Track and Field
The captain of the 1922 football squad at Vermont, Oscar "Swede" Johnson, a 1980 UVM Hall of Fame inductee, was known for his 26 consecutive games played without being taken out. Johnson was also a standout on the track and field team. He was the top thrower, his strong points being the shot put and javelin.
Upon graduation from UVM, Johnson played pro football with the Boston Bulldogs- the first pro team to play at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. He also played under George Halas in 1924 for the Chicago Bears of the NFL. Johnson also participated in amateur wrestling and was asked to go professional, but he turned the idea down. He was a member of the Boston Posse Track Club, which competed all over the Northeast in the 20's.
Before UVM, Johnson was an avid rower and baseball player in the greater Boston area. He worked for the Great American Insurance Company of New York and the Travelers Insurance Company in Boston before retirement.
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