Legislator named to High School Sports Advisory Group

Gov. Asa Hutchinson has appointed state Rep. Dr. Lee Johnson, R-Greenwood, to the High School Sports Advisory Group.

The advisory panel considers the safest ways to conduct interscholastic sports and activities during the covid-19 pandemic.

Johnson, a former member of the state Board of Health, is among five physicians on the panel.

As a state legislator, he represents District 75, which includes portions of Sebastian and Crawford counties.

Other members of the panel are:

Dr. Greg Bledsoe, chairman of the group. He is the Arkansas Surgeon General.

Kelvin Gragg, vice chairman. Gragg is superintendent of the Dumas School District.

Dr. Lowry Barnes, orthopedic surgeon and chairman of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Department of Orthopedics.

Jacob Brown, Therapeutic Family Services.

Paul Calley, dean of students, assistant football coach, Southwest High School in Little Rock.

Jason Cates, athletic trainer at Cabot School District and chairman of the Arkansas Sports Medicine Committee.

Laura Crow, volleyball coach at Conway High School.

Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, state epidemiologist, Arkansas Department of Health.

Fitz Hill, state Board of Education.

Dr. Michael Israel, associate professor of Adolescent Medicine and Director of Sports Medicine at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Janet McDonald, behavioral health professional at Pinnacle Pointe.

Lance Taylor, director of the Arkansas Activities Association.

Dr. Joel Tumlison, physician specialist, Arkansas Department of Health.