Johnnie Downs News Today

Late Korean War Army Sgt. Vernon Judd of Sugar Creek Township is honored by the Massillon American Legion.

Installation of bronze statue downtown is dedication to the men and women who built Akron Doug Livingston, Akron Beacon Journal Johnnie Downs returned from the Vietnam War in 1967 with no idea where he would work. He spent the next 18 years making tires at BF Goodrich. “The conditions were bad, but the money was good,” said Downs, who is now 74 and retired. “See, the thing about working the job, sometimes you had to do what you had to do to take care of your family. And th...