Packer Fan Boasts Ultimate Cave
by Arianne Nellessen City-Times Staff
Ronald Johnson is not your average Green Bay Packers fan.
That fact becomes clear to anyone who drives by the home he shares with his wife, Linda, in Stevens Point. In their driveway sits a shiny green Hummer, decked out with a large Packers decal in the back window and a green and gold license plate.
The color of the Hummer was no accident.
“It had to be green for the Packers,” said Linda Johnson.
“All my neighbors know I’m a huge Packers fan,” Ronald Johnson said.
“They see me driving my green golf cart around everywhere.”
The golf cart is styled with the Packer’s signature green and gold colors. Ronald Johnson, who is recovering from a serious illness he contracted in 2005, has trouble walking without the assistance of a cane, so the golf cart is a quick way to get around the neighborhood, where he says he’s become a bit of a celebrity with other Packer fans.
Inside the couple’s home, their finished basement is one-half showroom and one-half movie theatre, where all Packers items are collected by Ronald Johnson and carefully preserved and arranged by his wife.
“Most people come down and don’t believe it,” Ronald Johnson said, standing in front of his 148 inch projection screen, on which the couple watches Packer games.
The basement is covered from floor to ceiling in Packers memorabilia- even the bathroom has the Packers green and gold flair- and most of the items are collectables and rare pieces.
Ronald Johnson collects every type of memorabilia, including autographed footballs, helmets and special edition Packers Miller Lite beer.
Ronald Johnson said he became a Packers fan after the couple moved from Illinois to Wisconsin several years ago.
“I never liked the Bears or football that much before the move,” he said
“I’ve always been a collector, though.”
Johnson added his past collections have focused on famous actors and singers/musicians from the 1970’s through the 1990’s.
There was something special about the Packers and their small-town appeal, and Ronald Johnson said he began collecting all things green and gold in 1995.
One of Ronald Johnson’s favorite items to collect are helmets. An entire wall of the basement is lined in shiny display cabinets, filled from top to bottom with Brett Favre helmets autographed by the three-time MVP himself. The items span Favre’s career from his humble beginnings at Hancock North Central High School in Mississippi to the 2012 Pro Bowl.
“Some people aren’t too crazy about Brett Favre anymore,” Linda Johnson said, as her husband opened the glass display doors.
“But I’m still a member of his fan group,” Ronald Johnson said, adding he was aware of the division the once- popular player has caused.
But that won’t stop him from collecting.
“I have a Favre ring from Pro Bowl 2010. I wore it every single day. I just retired it.”
Ronald Johnson’s collection of Favre helmets were all purchased from the Brett Favre Fan Club. Each helmet is of professional quality and cost around $600.
His favorite item, though, is the collection is a helmets that cost only a few dollars at the local Goodwill.
“Everyone on the team signed that [helmet]. I had that signed in person in 2001. It took me four hours in 90 degree heat at training camp,” Ronald Johnson said.
Ronald Johnson is no fair weather fan, either. Regardless of the team’s victories or defeats over the past 17 years, he’s remained a faithful devotee and collector.
“I think we’re going to do good [this year]. I think we’ll make it to the Super Bowl,” he said. “Though I probably won’t be adding too much to the collection now. I don’t have anymore room.”
His wife, though a clear supporter of his collection, laughed and shook her head.
“Well, I want to have a showcase down here, actually,” he said. His wife laughed again and the two shared a knowing smile.
As long as the Green Bay Packers remain in Wisconsin, Ronald Johnson said he’ll keep on collecting.