By Emily Matejcek
Jay Johnson was in Mini-School quite a while ago, but there are still many memories of him here. He has been very successful after Mini and was very successful during Mini I’m sure.
Before the last issue I found Jay’s phone number and tried to get in touch with him, but never got to actually talk with him, so this time I did it the easy way and just wrote a short letter with some questions to answer. This is the letter he wrote back:
Thank you for your interest in what is going on in my life since my Mini-School years.
Q: What are you doing with your life now?
A: I moved to Durango Colorado and was a ski bum for three years. Then moved to Kansas City area and have been married to my wife, Beth, for ten years. We have two kids, Charlotte-8 years, and Warren-2 years. I have a business partner, Tony Holland, who is also my best friend. Tony and I formed a company in 1990 called Solid Core Concrete Corp. We have just started a new business, H/J Motorsports, for Nascar Stockcar Racing.
Q: What did you think you would be doing now, when you were in Mini School?
A: Hanging out on the lake, in Excelsior and at TWrights and just living for the moment. (None of the answers to question one.)
Q; Did you have any schooling beyond High School? If not, how did you get where you are?
A: None. Lots of hours in banker’s, accountant’s, or lawyers office’s. My partner and I saw a niche in our industry and just worked non-stop for the past six years to achieve what we have. Plus, I never think negatively!
Q: What’s important to you? Any pets, hobbies, or interests?
A: My wife and kids are the most important. My hobby is stock car racing. I was a member of a pit crew for #48 Joe Not, on the national televised American Speed Association for the past three years. Last fall Beth and my partner, Tony bought me a race car to keep me in town on the weekends. I will be racing locally this summer. I have three dogs, Scheaffer, Nikki, and Red.
Q: What do you remember about Mini School?
A: How lucky we were that Minnetonka had a program and particularly the staff to let each kid know they were somebody. And, how when it came down to it, we all stuck together whether it was to vote in a homecoming king and queen or to rake that guy’s big lawn when it was 25 degrees outside.
Q: What do you want to say to Mini School?
A: Students that have chosen not to be a part of the mainstream for whatever reason need to realize that they have something that most people don’t have, street smarts or the ability to make use of knowledge whether it be in art, music, culinary, business, sports, or computers, but most of all in your everyday life.
Q: What do you want to say to Amy Mook?
A: Well, when her name came up I thought, “Oh Hell” but she is still there so she must be good for the system? This summer at the reunion, Doug and Randy told me of all the success stories that have come out of Mini School. So, Amy Mook, the “Unwanted Step Child” can and has very well proven success. And, oh yeah Amy, I have never been invited to any reunion by you… but you don’t have Volleyball anyway.
Q: Describe how wonderfully Doug and Randy influenced your life?
A: Well, when I was in Mini School I broke my leg racing motorcycles. Randy told me that if I would just play Volleyball in Rec., I could get credit for it. It hurt like hell, but I did play everyday. On the serious side, I can’t read a newspaper without thinking about Randy’s first hour. Randy also showed me how to prepare my income taxes (somebody has to tell you the bad parts of life). When I think of Doug, I always remember how he could listen to any person one on one and then have this really great thought out answer. Or he may tell you what you really don’t want to hear, but you know he’s right. Doug has taught me to really listen, think, and then speak when doing business. Thank you Doug and Randy!
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
A: I’d just like to say thank you for your interest in what has been going on. If any of you are “Hauling” south, I’m just off of I-35. Stop by! Also, it would be great to see even more alumni and their families at the next reunion. Maybe we could put Gary Will on that committee!
P.S. Randy, I see Matt Crane, who used to play soccer for you (class 1990) everyday. He works for one of our suppliers.
Sincerely,
Jay Johnson
Thank you Jay, for taking the time to help us be inspired by Mini-School alumni’s success. Hopefully, in ten years from now, I can be a featured successful Mini School Alumni in a featured article!