Wally Johansen - Basketball

Wally Johansen played a key role in putting basketball in Astoria and then the University of Oregon on the state and national map.

Born in 1917, Johansen grew up in Astoria and found a role in the high school basketball program led by coach John Warren. Johansen, a 6-foot-2 guard, teamed with classmate and fellow guard Bobby Anet to help the Fishermen win the state title as juniors and seniors and then moved to Eugene to attend Oregon when Warren moved there to become an assistant coach.

At Oregon, Johansen developed his skills under Coach Howard Hobson and helped the Ducks win the Pacific Coast Conference Northern Division title in 1937, ’38 and ’39. The ’39 team won the PCC title after a best-of-three series victory over California, and won three games in the first NCAA men’s basketball tournament, including a 46-33 victory over Ohio State in the championship game. Johansen scored 9 points in the final.

Following his senior season and earning a degree, Johansen remained in Eugene and earned a Masters Degree from the University of Oregon School of Law. He eventually became a partner in a law firm in Coos Bay and served as President of the Oregon State Bar in 1967-68.