KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan Division of Intercollegiate Athletics mourns the passing of WMU Athletics Hall of Famer Len "Lefty" Johnston, who recently passed away at the age of 96.
 
A native of Saginaw, Mich., Johnston starred for both the football (1949-51) and baseball (1950-52) programs during his time at Western Michigan. On the gridiron, Johnston was an end who caught a then-school record nine touchdown passes during the 1951 season. On the diamond, he was part of a program which won four straight MAC regular season championships from 1949-52, and was part of the 1952 team which became the first in program history to reach the NCAA Tournament.
 
Named an All-MAC outfielder in 1952, Johnston batted .318 over 66 career games for the Broncos. The southpaw led Western Michigan in hits (37), runs scored (32) and on-base percentage (.458) in 1950, then paced the club in runs again in 1951 with 27. Johnston also stole a team-high 15 bases in 1951 and led the team again with 16 steals in 1952. He left WMU holding the school records for runs scored (82), steals (32) and on-base percentage (.436). His 11 career triples still rank as the fifth-most in program history. Johnston was inducted into the WMU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.
 
Following his career at Western Michigan, Johnston was signed by the Chicago White Sox. In 1953, he was named the Minor League Rookie of the Year playing for Chicago's Class A affiliate in Colorado Springs. He went on to have a 15-year career in the minors, including spending parts of 12 seasons at the Triple-A level. Following his playing career, he spent decades as a member of the Baltimore Orioles organization, serving in a variety of roles, including managing, coaching, scouting and operations.
 
"Lefty was a true treasure to me and the entire Western Michigan family," former WMU Director of Athletics Kathy Beauregard said. "As an athlete, teacher, coach, father, grandfather, and friend, he inspired countless lives through his unwavering passion for baseball and his ability to teach life lessons through the game. He was deeply loved and had an extraordinary gift for connecting with others in meaningful ways.
 
His devotion to his alma mater and the lifelong friendships he cultivated were unmatched. WMU proudly honored his legacy by naming the Broncos' home dugout after him—a fitting tribute to a man who shaped generations of players and coaches. Even well into his 80s, Lefty continued to coach with wisdom, heart, and a love for the game. He will forever be our Bronco for Life, and his spirit will always live on at Hyames Field."