Johnny Samuels – Athletics and Honorary Staff Member

• FSDB Black Varsity Basketball Team (Rattlers) and Varsity Track for 6 years: 1961-1966
• All-America Honorable Mention for BB (1965-66) in the Deaf American magazine.
• Broke the Hall of Famer Lathell Grimes Scoring Record in 1966 with overall 1861 points
• FSDB Varsity Basketball Team (Integrated) during his last year in 1967 (325 total points) that won as follows:
  • 2nd place in Mason-Dixon Basketball tournament
  • District-1st place
  • Regional-2nd place
  • National Championship in the Deaf Mythical Basketball. 
• First Black football player to score a touchdown for FSDB in 1965, the first year of school desegregation. 
• Having qualified in Shot Put into the FHSAA State Track meets for 5 straight years in a row, he won 3rd place in 1965; 1st place (championship) at 46’10”-State Class B Record in 1966; 1st place (championship) at 50’1-¼”-State Class C Record in 1967
• Won two Bronze medals (3rd place) for Shot Put in Deaflympics (1969 and 1973)
• Continued his athletic careers at Gallaudet University: football (4 years), basketball (2 years), and track (4 years). Was a Shot Put Champ during the Mason-Dixon Conference in 1971 and Broke the College-weight Shot Put record at Gallaudet Univ. at 48’4” in 1972. Was selected the 1970 Block G Athlete of the Year. 
• After his graduation from Gallaudet University and California State University at Northridge (CSUN), he returned to his Alma Mater as a teacher and coach in 1978. 
• Coaching Career at FSDB: 
  • Assistant Coach (16) and Head Football Coach (17) for total of 33 years. He was selected as the National Coach of the Year in 2011 by the NAD Deaf American Magazine
  • Coach for Varsity Girls Basketball for 7 years. His 1984 Team won Mason-Dixon Championship and National Championship by the NAD Deaf American Magazine. He was selected National Deaf Prep Coach of the Year in 1984. 
  • Coach for Varsity Boys Basketball for 6 years.
  • Coach for Varsity Girls Track for 9 years. His 2005 team won the Mason-Dixon Conference Champs. His 1981 team won the 2nd or 3rd place in the Florida State Track & Field Meet. 
• Retired in 2013 from teaching and coaching at FSDB for 35 years.