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Vance Johnson
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GLENWOOD SPRINGS, COLORADO — Former Denver Broncos wide receiver Vance Johnson said his son’s tragic death has led to some tough financial times.
“Shortly after my son died, life kind of got tough for me,” he said. “As a result, things kind of caught up with me business-wise because it was hard enough waking up in the mornings, let alone anything else in life.”
The U.S. Bank National Association filed foreclosure proceedings against Johnson’s Westbank Road home on March 28. The civil claim alleges Johnson failed to make payments on a $630,000 promissory note to Wells Fargo Bank for the house. It asks for the home to be sold by the public trustee. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for April 21.
Johnson plans to continue running the VJ’s Outlaw Ribbs restaurant he opened in Parachute in January 2007. He said the restaurant has been just about the only thing he can focus on since losing his son.
His son, Vaughn Edward Johnson, 19, died in the Denver area in September when a sport-utility vehicle collided with his motorcycle.
Johnson said he shut down emotionally after losing Vaughn, who he said was so promising in life, attended college and played football with aspirations of being like his dad.
“It’s a very hard time. I’ve seen a lot of people go through it,” said Rick Van Vleet, pastor at the Crown Peak Baptist Church in Parachute. “It’s something you have to almost place yourself in their shoes and wonder what you would let slide by while you’re trying to grieve.”
Johnson surrendered a 2006 Land Rover on Feb. 8 after the Land Rover Capital Group alleged he failed to make payments on the vehicle, according to the Garfield County Combined Courts office. On Feb. 19, Johnson turned himself in at the Rifle Police Department on a warrant for missing a Feb. 8 court date in Larimer County. He posted $7,500 bond immediately. A Fort Collins Police Department spokeswoman said the case originated when police cited Johnson in 2001 for allegedly writing two bad checks when he knew there wasn’t money in the account at the time.
Johnson was a star for the Broncos along with fellow receivers Mark Jackson and Ricky Nattiel, who collectively were known as the “Three Amigos.” Johnson played for the Broncos from 1985 to 1993 and again in 1995. He had 415 catches for the Broncos, the fifth-most in team history.
Johnson said he appreciates the support he’s received from his family and the community.
“When you lose a son that you care so deeply about, you’re just not focused,” Van Vleet said. “Your mind is on the fact that you have to bury your son and the fact that you’ll never see him again.”
“Shortly after my son died, life kind of got tough for me,” he said. “As a result, things kind of caught up with me business-wise because it was hard enough waking up in the mornings, let alone anything else in life.”
The U.S. Bank National Association filed foreclosure proceedings against Johnson’s Westbank Road home on March 28. The civil claim alleges Johnson failed to make payments on a $630,000 promissory note to Wells Fargo Bank for the house. It asks for the home to be sold by the public trustee. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for April 21.
Johnson plans to continue running the VJ’s Outlaw Ribbs restaurant he opened in Parachute in January 2007. He said the restaurant has been just about the only thing he can focus on since losing his son.
His son, Vaughn Edward Johnson, 19, died in the Denver area in September when a sport-utility vehicle collided with his motorcycle.
Johnson said he shut down emotionally after losing Vaughn, who he said was so promising in life, attended college and played football with aspirations of being like his dad.
“It’s a very hard time. I’ve seen a lot of people go through it,” said Rick Van Vleet, pastor at the Crown Peak Baptist Church in Parachute. “It’s something you have to almost place yourself in their shoes and wonder what you would let slide by while you’re trying to grieve.”
Johnson surrendered a 2006 Land Rover on Feb. 8 after the Land Rover Capital Group alleged he failed to make payments on the vehicle, according to the Garfield County Combined Courts office. On Feb. 19, Johnson turned himself in at the Rifle Police Department on a warrant for missing a Feb. 8 court date in Larimer County. He posted $7,500 bond immediately. A Fort Collins Police Department spokeswoman said the case originated when police cited Johnson in 2001 for allegedly writing two bad checks when he knew there wasn’t money in the account at the time.
Johnson was a star for the Broncos along with fellow receivers Mark Jackson and Ricky Nattiel, who collectively were known as the “Three Amigos.” Johnson played for the Broncos from 1985 to 1993 and again in 1995. He had 415 catches for the Broncos, the fifth-most in team history.
Johnson said he appreciates the support he’s received from his family and the community.
“When you lose a son that you care so deeply about, you’re just not focused,” Van Vleet said. “Your mind is on the fact that you have to bury your son and the fact that you’ll never see him again.”
