2026
As a member of the King family, which is one of the most well-known golf families in the Roanoke Valley, Johnny King’s induction is long overdue.
Johnny started working with his father Clarence in 1957, at the tender age of 10, picking up golf balls. (Clarence was one of the first two original inductees, into the RVGHF.) As he became older, his responsibilities at Blue Hills became greater, such as working in the Pro Shop, signing up golfers, starting golfers off the first tee, marshalling, and taking care of golf carts.
At the age 19, he joined the PGA apprentice program. When his father Clarence passed away in 1970, he became the Assistant Pro, taking on greater duties and began teaching golf lessons. In 1972 he passed the exam for the PGA Business School.
Johnny played in many Pro-Am’s across the state while also working at Blue Hills full time. As a younger professional golfer, he promoted the game of golf for junior golfers, and ran tournaments for junior golfers. He helped develop the robust junior golf program at Blue Hills. Johnny facilitated junior golfers in the Valley by giving golf clinics, individual golf lessons, mentorship and anything else needed, including donating golf equipment. That legacy of promoting junior golf, continues today at Blue Hills with their exceptional junior golf memberships.
In the late 80s Mr. King became the adjunct Golf Professor at Hollins College, teaching golf for 2 semesters.
Johnny has organized and run hundreds of golf tournaments in his career. This includes, not only club events but many charitable events such as, Global Partners in Peace and Development and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
In 1987, Johnny and Linda, his wife of 57 years, tragically lost their son John to an automobile accident. Along with their daughter Patti King Kapral, and other family members, the King Family Memorial Scholarship was established in 1992, to honor John King II, as well as Martha and Clarence King.
The King family graciously supports junior golfers in the Valley, who are advancing their academic careers, with their very generous annual King Family Memorial Scholarship. In addition to the King Family Memorial Scholarship, in 2026, the family funded a second annual scholarship to a deserving senior who has been a participant in The First Tee Roanoke Valley.
In 2008, after 50 years of blood, sweat and tears at Blue Hills Golf Club, Johnny retired. He didn’t retire to the rocking chair. He has taken on rolls volunteering for Fellowship of Christian Athletes and working with juniors at The First Tee Roanoke Valley. He still serves on the Board of Directors at Blue Hills Golf Club as the Greens and Grounds committee Chairman. It is his intention to stay entwined in the Roanoke Valley Golf community for many more years to come.
The Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame is honored to have Johnny join the Hall of Fame as an Inductee, along with his Father Clarence, (1974), Mother Martha King, (2016) and brother Billy (1993).
