
[Music] leadership and I’ve had so many great
leadership and I’ve had so many great
leadership and I’ve had so many great leaders in my lifetime that I just
leaders in my lifetime that I just
leaders in my lifetime that I just looked up to and follow some that I knew
looked up to and follow some that I knew
looked up to and follow some that I knew personally and some that I just follow
personally and some that I just follow
personally and some that I just follow from afar people like dr. Martin Luther
from afar people like dr. Martin Luther
from afar people like dr. Martin Luther King Nelson Mandela and the greatest
King Nelson Mandela and the greatest
King Nelson Mandela and the greatest Muhammad Ali just great leaders that I
Muhammad Ali just great leaders that I
Muhammad Ali just great leaders that I always admired but the person that I
always admired but the person that I
always admired but the person that I really admired most as a leader and got
really admired most as a leader and got
really admired most as a leader and got a front-row seat to see my mother’s name
a front-row seat to see my mother’s name
a front-row seat to see my mother’s name is was Mae Johnson and some of you may
is was Mae Johnson and some of you may
is was Mae Johnson and some of you may have some of you adults in the audience
have some of you adults in the audience
have some of you adults in the audience may have known her but she was a a
may have known her but she was a a
may have known her but she was a a beloved educator on the Monterey
beloved educator on the Monterey
beloved educator on the Monterey Peninsula but before that she grew up in
Peninsula but before that she grew up in
Peninsula but before that she grew up in a small rural community a place called
a small rural community a place called
a small rural community a place called Coleman Georgia that if you if you drove
Coleman Georgia that if you if you drove
Coleman Georgia that if you if you drove probably 20 miles an hour you’d be
probably 20 miles an hour you’d be
probably 20 miles an hour you’d be through the town in probably two minutes
through the town in probably two minutes
through the town in probably two minutes not a very big town is very rural as a
not a very big town is very rural as a
not a very big town is very rural as a farming community and it was a place
farming community and it was a place
farming community and it was a place where time stands still my mother was
where time stands still my mother was
where time stands still my mother was one of three children that that was
one of three children that that was
one of three children that that was growing up in that town and during that
growing up in that town and during that
growing up in that town and during that time the only industries that were
time the only industries that were
time the only industries that were available was that was farming and and
available was that was farming and and
available was that was farming and and then just working downtown and the
then just working downtown and the
then just working downtown and the retail which wasn’t that big my mom the
retail which wasn’t that big my mom the
retail which wasn’t that big my mom the the crop that they could pick was was
the crop that they could pick was was
the crop that they could pick was was either cotton or peanuts and my mother
either cotton or peanuts and my mother
either cotton or peanuts and my mother was terrible at picking both my uncle I
was terrible at picking both my uncle I
was terrible at picking both my uncle I had an uncle and she did owned some
had an uncle and she did owned some
had an uncle and she did owned some businesses and was fairly well-to-do and
businesses and was fairly well-to-do and
businesses and was fairly well-to-do and he saw how smart my mother was and he
he saw how smart my mother was and he
he saw how smart my mother was and he decided that he was going to make it his
decided that he was going to make it his
decided that he was going to make it his mission to see her that she got to
mission to see her that she got to
mission to see her that she got to college so she paid for her education
college so she paid for her education
college so she paid for her education she after she graduated from high school
she after she graduated from high school
she after she graduated from high school she went
she went
she went a college named Fort Valley University
a college named Fort Valley University
a college named Fort Valley University in Columbus Georgia and there she met my
in Columbus Georgia and there she met my
in Columbus Georgia and there she met my my father who was 18 years her senior
my father who was 18 years her senior
my father who was 18 years her senior stationed at Fort Benning Georgia and
stationed at Fort Benning Georgia and
stationed at Fort Benning Georgia and they married they moved to Monterey and
they married they moved to Monterey and
they married they moved to Monterey and had all of us you can see this is my mom
had all of us you can see this is my mom
had all of us you can see this is my mom kind of around at years after that time
kind of around at years after that time
kind of around at years after that time but this is us and aren’t aren’t they
but this is us and aren’t aren’t they
but this is us and aren’t aren’t they cute and I’m the I’m the second one over
cute and I’m the I’m the second one over
cute and I’m the I’m the second one over leaning against my brother
leaning against my brother
leaning against my brother Edie and anyway so she had they had all
Edie and anyway so she had they had all
Edie and anyway so she had they had all of us and I have a sister also after my
of us and I have a sister also after my
of us and I have a sister also after my after ten years of marriage it just was
after ten years of marriage it just was
after ten years of marriage it just was not it was not gonna work out my mother
not it was not gonna work out my mother
not it was not gonna work out my mother wasn’t happy so she divorced my father
wasn’t happy so she divorced my father
wasn’t happy so she divorced my father that was ten years into the marriage and
that was ten years into the marriage and
that was ten years into the marriage and again my mother had ambitions beyond
again my mother had ambitions beyond
again my mother had ambitions beyond being a cotton picker or a beet or a
being a cotton picker or a beet or a
being a cotton picker or a beet or a peanut picker so she wanted to be a
peanut picker so she wanted to be a
peanut picker so she wanted to be a teacher that was her life ambition so
teacher that was her life ambition so
teacher that was her life ambition so she she pursued that dream and was able
she she pursued that dream and was able
she she pursued that dream and was able to actually achieve that through a lot
to actually achieve that through a lot
to actually achieve that through a lot of hard work and when I say I had a
of hard work and when I say I had a
of hard work and when I say I had a front-row seat I had a front-row seat to
front-row seat I had a front-row seat to
front-row seat I had a front-row seat to this watching her struggle to pay all
this watching her struggle to pay all
this watching her struggle to pay all the bills that keep all of us fed keep
the bills that keep all of us fed keep
the bills that keep all of us fed keep us out of trouble keep us focused on
us out of trouble keep us focused on
us out of trouble keep us focused on school and our education she was amazing
school and our education she was amazing
school and our education she was amazing and doing that and the thing that was
and doing that and the thing that was
and doing that and the thing that was the most amazing is she did that with
the most amazing is she did that with
the most amazing is she did that with ambitions to get her her master’s degree
ambitions to get her her master’s degree
ambitions to get her her master’s degree and also go into administration she did
and also go into administration she did
and also go into administration she did all this over the course of probably ten
all this over the course of probably ten
all this over the course of probably ten years was when she was elevated to the
years was when she was elevated to the
years was when she was elevated to the office of principal she worked for many
office of principal she worked for many
office of principal she worked for many of the public schools on the Monterey
of the public schools on the Monterey
of the public schools on the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District and it
Peninsula Unified School District and it
Peninsula Unified School District and it was there that she started to achieve
was there that she started to achieve
was there that she started to achieve the highest honors
the highest honors
the highest honors and eventually was appointed the first
and eventually was appointed the first
and eventually was appointed the first female principal at Monterey high school
female principal at Monterey high school
female principal at Monterey high school and that was in the early 1990s and
and that was in the early 1990s and
and that was in the early 1990s and there’s a picture of her in that
there’s a picture of her in that
there’s a picture of her in that capacity so I share all that to share
capacity so I share all that to share
capacity so I share all that to share that she had great qualities great
that she had great qualities great
that she had great qualities great leadership qualities she was doing all
leadership qualities she was doing all
leadership qualities she was doing all these things with with some training but
these things with with some training but
these things with with some training but a lot of it she was doing just from what
a lot of it she was doing just from what
a lot of it she was doing just from what what came naturally to her and the thing
what came naturally to her and the thing
what came naturally to her and the thing that I I took note of when I looked at
that I I took note of when I looked at
that I I took note of when I looked at these five qualities of a great leader
these five qualities of a great leader
these five qualities of a great leader is it was speaking about May Johnson
is it was speaking about May Johnson
is it was speaking about May Johnson clarity she had a clear vision and a
clarity she had a clear vision and a
clarity she had a clear vision and a plan of what she needed to do and what
plan of what she needed to do and what
plan of what she needed to do and what she needed to accomplish decisiveness
she needed to accomplish decisiveness
she needed to accomplish decisiveness she was able to make up her mind and she
she was able to make up her mind and she
she was able to make up her mind and she stuck with the plan that she set out to
stuck with the plan that she set out to
stuck with the plan that she set out to to execute courage boy did she have
to execute courage boy did she have
to execute courage boy did she have courage time doesn’t permit for me to
courage time doesn’t permit for me to
courage time doesn’t permit for me to tell you that the number of ways that
tell you that the number of ways that
tell you that the number of ways that she displayed that courage but but she
she displayed that courage but but she
she displayed that courage but but she instilled it in all of us all of her
instilled it in all of us all of her
instilled it in all of us all of her children and passion she felt like her
children and passion she felt like her
children and passion she felt like her career was not it was not a profession
career was not it was not a profession
career was not it was not a profession it was a calling and if you talked to
it was a calling and if you talked to
it was a calling and if you talked to any of her students or talked to any of
any of her students or talked to any of
any of her students or talked to any of her colleagues they would certainly
her colleagues they would certainly
her colleagues they would certainly attest to that and humility of course
attest to that and humility of course
attest to that and humility of course she was always gracious and grateful in
she was always gracious and grateful in
she was always gracious and grateful in the way that she led people so how did
the way that she led people so how did
the way that she led people so how did that influence me and how am I going to
that influence me and how am I going to
that influence me and how am I going to try to get that over to influence all of
try to get that over to influence all of
try to get that over to influence all of you the way that it influenced me was I
you the way that it influenced me was I
you the way that it influenced me was I was I was a quiet a quiet young man in
was I was a quiet a quiet young man in
was I was a quiet a quiet young man in high school
high school
high school somewhat a little shy and but I did have
somewhat a little shy and but I did have
somewhat a little shy and but I did have a passion for sports that I had a
a passion for sports that I had a
a passion for sports that I had a passion for just athletics and so when I
passion for just athletics and so when I
passion for just athletics and so when I was in high school I started to just
was in high school I started to just
was in high school I started to just really have success in sports my events
really have success in sports my events
really have success in sports my events were track and field and in football and
were track and field and in football and
were track and field and in football and it was during these two sports that I
it was during these two sports that I
it was during these two sports that I noticed that
noticed that
noticed that that my friends my peers were starting
that my friends my peers were starting
that my friends my peers were starting to look at me as a leader and so rather
to look at me as a leader and so rather
to look at me as a leader and so rather than run away from that that personna
than run away from that that personna
than run away from that that personna I just embraced it the same way that my
I just embraced it the same way that my
I just embraced it the same way that my mother embraced her role as principal
mother embraced her role as principal
mother embraced her role as principal and and that led me on to go on to
and and that led me on to go on to
and and that led me on to go on to college and then go on into the NFL so
college and then go on into the NFL so
college and then go on into the NFL so this is just a this is a game that we
this is just a this is a game that we
this is just a this is a game that we had against the Arizona Cardinals it was
had against the Arizona Cardinals it was
had against the Arizona Cardinals it was during a time when I was actually cut
during a time when I was actually cut
during a time when I was actually cut from the team earlier in the season and
from the team earlier in the season and
from the team earlier in the season and then when our our star receiver was was
then when our our star receiver was was
then when our our star receiver was was hurt he broke his leg I was brought back
hurt he broke his leg I was brought back
hurt he broke his leg I was brought back on to the team and so we ended up having
on to the team and so we ended up having
on to the team and so we ended up having this pivotal game and I’ll just kind of
this pivotal game and I’ll just kind of
this pivotal game and I’ll just kind of show you while Simmons was the hero of
show you while Simmons was the hero of
show you while Simmons was the hero of this game the following week at home
this game the following week at home
this game the following week at home against the Cardinals a new hero emerged
against the Cardinals a new hero emerged
against the Cardinals a new hero emerged Ron Johnson was back on first down he’s
Ron Johnson was back on first down he’s
Ron Johnson was back on first down he’s looking he’s stepping up he drills the
looking he’s stepping up he drills the
looking he’s stepping up he drills the football
football
football [Applause]
all of Veterans Stadium held their
all of Veterans Stadium held their collective breath when Randall
collective breath when Randall
collective breath when Randall Cunningham was briefly injured but
Cunningham was briefly injured but
Cunningham was briefly injured but backups Don Macpherson and Matt
backups Don Macpherson and Matt
backups Don Macpherson and Matt Cavanaugh number six can come to the
Cavanaugh number six can come to the
Cavanaugh number six can come to the rescue and called upon Cavanaugh
rescue and called upon Cavanaugh
rescue and called upon Cavanaugh on third down backs up looks floats it
on third down backs up looks floats it
on third down backs up looks floats it for the endzone
Eagles late by ten but do not feel safe
Eagles late by ten but do not feel safe yet
yet
yet [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] back coast out again he’s pumping he’s
back coast out again he’s pumping he’s
back coast out again he’s pumping he’s going deep it is intercepted
going deep it is intercepted
going deep it is intercepted devil
devil
devil [Applause]
and now you can feel safe the
and now you can feel safe the Philadelphia Eagles were now tied for
Philadelphia Eagles were now tied for
Philadelphia Eagles were now tied for the NFC East lead with three games to go
I’m Delta Q imitating me again I’m gonna
I’m Delta Q imitating me again I’m gonna knock you out all right and if you’re
knock you out all right and if you’re
knock you out all right and if you’re wondering who John tell chick is he was
wondering who John tell chick is he was
wondering who John tell chick is he was our punter and this he just always used
our punter and this he just always used
our punter and this he just always used to imitate different guys on the team
to imitate different guys on the team
to imitate different guys on the team really got honours anyway I show that
really got honours anyway I show that
really got honours anyway I show that because there I was I went from someone
because there I was I went from someone
because there I was I went from someone that was out of work I was out of
that was out of work I was out of
that was out of work I was out of football and brought back onto the team
football and brought back onto the team
football and brought back onto the team and had to had to come in and play a
and had to had to come in and play a
and had to had to come in and play a leadership role basically take the
leadership role basically take the
leadership role basically take the person’s place the best player on the
person’s place the best player on the
person’s place the best player on the team had to take his place and and do
team had to take his place and and do
team had to take his place and and do that job and so that was really a
that job and so that was really a
that job and so that was really a defining moment for certainly for me
defining moment for certainly for me
defining moment for certainly for me okay so my coach this man his name is
okay so my coach this man his name is
okay so my coach this man his name is buddy Ryan and he was a really dynamic
buddy Ryan and he was a really dynamic
buddy Ryan and he was a really dynamic leader very very brash he was he was a
leader very very brash he was he was a
leader very very brash he was he was a lot different than my mom but he was he
lot different than my mom but he was he
lot different than my mom but he was he was such a doesn’t he look like a mean
was such a doesn’t he look like a mean
was such a doesn’t he look like a mean guy but but he was he really taught me a
guy but but he was he really taught me a
guy but but he was he really taught me a lot about preparation and having vision
lot about preparation and having vision
lot about preparation and having vision and I always will respect him he passed
and I always will respect him he passed
and I always will respect him he passed away also I believe it was last year but
away also I believe it was last year but
away also I believe it was last year but he was beloved a beloved leader and and
he was beloved a beloved leader and and
he was beloved a beloved leader and and and just person in the NFL that was so
and just person in the NFL that was so
and just person in the NFL that was so well respected so I wanted to talk a
well respected so I wanted to talk a
well respected so I wanted to talk a little bit about leadership and and how
little bit about leadership and and how
little bit about leadership and and how that how that plays itself out here at
that how that plays itself out here at
that how that plays itself out here at your school so I can see that the
your school so I can see that the
your school so I can see that the mission or we can all see that Santa
mission or we can all see that Santa
mission or we can all see that Santa catalunya Santa Catalina exists to
catalunya Santa Catalina exists to
catalunya Santa Catalina exists to develop each student in striving for
develop each student in striving for
develop each student in striving for accident a maturing awareness of moral
accident a maturing awareness of moral
accident a maturing awareness of moral and spiritual values a sense of
and spiritual values a sense of
and spiritual values a sense of responsible purposes and determination
responsible purposes and determination
responsible purposes and determination to serve the world with courage
to serve the world with courage
to serve the world with courage graciousness and compassion that’s a
graciousness and compassion that’s a
graciousness and compassion that’s a powerful mission statement
powerful mission statement
powerful mission statement and so with that said obviously it’s
and so with that said obviously it’s
and so with that said obviously it’s been said earlier the the leadership
been said earlier the the leadership
been said earlier the the leadership here at this school is doing a fantastic
here at this school is doing a fantastic
here at this school is doing a fantastic job just creating that environment for
job just creating that environment for
job just creating that environment for you in just the way that everybody’s
you in just the way that everybody’s
you in just the way that everybody’s conducted themselves in there and the
conducted themselves in there and the
conducted themselves in there and the way that I’ve interacted and got to meet
way that I’ve interacted and got to meet
way that I’ve interacted and got to meet a few of you just very impressive things
a few of you just very impressive things
a few of you just very impressive things happening here so just kind of a popcorn
happening here so just kind of a popcorn
happening here so just kind of a popcorn thing some of the things that who are
thing some of the things that who are
thing some of the things that who are your leaders here who actually are the
your leaders here who actually are the
your leaders here who actually are the leaders in this at the school I’m here
leaders in this at the school I’m here
leaders in this at the school I’m here to learn – pretty good role models okay
to learn – pretty good role models okay
to learn – pretty good role models okay so what is it what are some of the
so what is it what are some of the
so what is it what are some of the things about all these people that just
things about all these people that just
things about all these people that just give you the great peace of mind and
give you the great peace of mind and
give you the great peace of mind and lets you know that they’re leaders
they’re poised poised and always under
they’re poised poised and always under control know what’s going on good
control know what’s going on good
control know what’s going on good anything they’re caring they actually
anything they’re caring they actually
anything they’re caring they actually care about and have a special interest
care about and have a special interest
care about and have a special interest in your life absolutely what else
they’re respectful respect goes both
they’re respectful respect goes both ways doesn’t it and you can see that it
ways doesn’t it and you can see that it
ways doesn’t it and you can see that it resonates throughout the campus great
resonates throughout the campus great
resonates throughout the campus great answers the other thing they also have
answers the other thing they also have
answers the other thing they also have to make sure that you’re safe on campus
to make sure that you’re safe on campus
to make sure that you’re safe on campus don’t they that’s important there are
don’t they that’s important there are
don’t they that’s important there are parents in the room I’m sure they can
parents in the room I’m sure they can
parents in the room I’m sure they can attest to that they have to take care of
attest to that they have to take care of
attest to that they have to take care of the school ground make sure that it’s
the school ground make sure that it’s
the school ground make sure that it’s that it’s well-maintained and it’s at
that it’s well-maintained and it’s at
that it’s well-maintained and it’s at the level of Santa Catalina so that’s
the level of Santa Catalina so that’s
the level of Santa Catalina so that’s also very important and also storing the
also very important and also storing the
also very important and also storing the good reputation of the school I put this
good reputation of the school I put this
good reputation of the school I put this this person up on the screen just to
this person up on the screen just to
this person up on the screen just to kind of close out with my with what I do
kind of close out with my with what I do
kind of close out with my with what I do I work at Boys and Girls Clubs of
I work at Boys and Girls Clubs of
I work at Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County now and it’s a job that
Monterey County now and it’s a job that
Monterey County now and it’s a job that I’ve done for 25 years now
I’ve done for 25 years now
I’ve done for 25 years now and I take tremendous satisfaction and
and I take tremendous satisfaction and
and I take tremendous satisfaction and working in that job because the people
working in that job because the people
working in that job because the people that have passed through those clubhouse
that have passed through those clubhouse
that have passed through those clubhouse doors have gone on to do some fantastic
doors have gone on to do some fantastic
doors have gone on to do some fantastic things lots of success stories and this
things lots of success stories and this
things lots of success stories and this is one of them so these are the reasons
is one of them so these are the reasons
is one of them so these are the reasons that I do what I do this young man’s
that I do what I do this young man’s
that I do what I do this young man’s name is Anthony wills and I met him when
name is Anthony wills and I met him when
name is Anthony wills and I met him when he was 10 years old he was quite quiet
he was 10 years old he was quite quiet
he was 10 years old he was quite quiet and somewhat unassuming as well and he
and somewhat unassuming as well and he
and somewhat unassuming as well and he was a musician very talented violinist
was a musician very talented violinist
was a musician very talented violinist and he also was interested in technology
and he also was interested in technology
and he also was interested in technology and he’s always interested in science so
and he’s always interested in science so
and he’s always interested in science so we encouraged him at the club just to go
we encouraged him at the club just to go
we encouraged him at the club just to go through these these programs and and be
through these these programs and and be
through these these programs and and be involved and encouraged him and he ended
involved and encouraged him and he ended
involved and encouraged him and he ended up at Monterey High School where my mom
up at Monterey High School where my mom
up at Monterey High School where my mom was principal at the time and from there
was principal at the time and from there
was principal at the time and from there he went on to Stanford and then went to
he went on to Stanford and then went to
he went on to Stanford and then went to med school became a pediatrician and
med school became a pediatrician and
med school became a pediatrician and he’s now he’s now a pediatrician in
he’s now he’s now a pediatrician in
he’s now he’s now a pediatrician in Sacramento for Kaiser Permanente and
Sacramento for Kaiser Permanente and
Sacramento for Kaiser Permanente and he’s just somebody that’s that’s a great
he’s just somebody that’s that’s a great
he’s just somebody that’s that’s a great example of what can happen when people
example of what can happen when people
example of what can happen when people in leadership are there to give kids the
in leadership are there to give kids the
in leadership are there to give kids the resources that they need and the and the
resources that they need and the and the
resources that they need and the and the people in leadership support them like
people in leadership support them like
people in leadership support them like like I said earlier so I just want to
like I said earlier so I just want to
like I said earlier so I just want to close out with just encouraging you to
close out with just encouraging you to
close out with just encouraging you to whatever causes that you’re passionate
whatever causes that you’re passionate
whatever causes that you’re passionate about that as we said earlier don’t
about that as we said earlier don’t
about that as we said earlier don’t don’t do nothing make sure that you
don’t do nothing make sure that you
don’t do nothing make sure that you pursue that passion make sure that you
pursue that passion make sure that you
pursue that passion make sure that you contribute something to the world
contribute something to the world
contribute something to the world that’s that’s great and you might think
that’s that’s great and you might think
that’s that’s great and you might think that it’s just a small thing but that
that it’s just a small thing but that
that it’s just a small thing but that ripple that little small thing might
ripple that little small thing might
ripple that little small thing might cause a ripple effect that changes the
cause a ripple effect that changes the
cause a ripple effect that changes the world and we certainly need new leaders
world and we certainly need new leaders
world and we certainly need new leaders we need great leaders in the world today
we need great leaders in the world today
we need great leaders in the world today during these times so thank you for your
during these times so thank you for your
during these times so thank you for your attention and god bless you
attention and god bless you
attention and god bless you you
”
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