Johnson wins M's Father of the Year
June 13, 2008 · Updated 2:18 PM
By CASEY OLSON
Sports editor
Federal Ways Ken Johnson got the thrill of a lifetime Sunday when the 43-year-old father of four got to throw out the first pitch at the Seattle Mariners-Atlanta Braves Major League baseball game at Safeco Field.
Johnson, who works as a foreman at a commerical painting company, received the honor of throwing the pitch after he was named the Mariners Father of the Year Sunday before the nationally-televised game. He was one of five finalists who attended a pre-game banquet.
The sports nut uncorked a perfect strike to centerfielder Mike Cameron, according to Jamie Bohnett, the chairman of Bohnett Memorial, one of the sponsors of the event.
Johnson and his 13-year-old son, Jesse, received free tickets to the game.
It couldnt have been a better day, Bohnett said, (Ken) is a great guy and they have a great family.
Johnson was nominated for the award after Jesse wrote an essay during his Sacajawea Junior High School language arts class detailing what his father meant to him.
Jesse s essay was one of 3,000 submitted from students around the Seattle area.
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