Jefferson City's horseshoe complex at Washington Park now bears the name of a man who has spent more time there than most.
Steve Johnson was honored Tuesday with the renaming of the former Washington Park Horseshoe Complex as the Steve Johnson Horseshoe Complex.
Johnson is an accomplished horseshoe player who has gathered many wins over his almost 60 years of throwing shoes.
"I've been throwing horseshoes since I was 8 years old," Johnson said. "Back then, old people, that's what they did - throw horseshoes. So I sat back and watched them, and then I picked up the shoes and started throwing them. When they were at work, I was practicing all day long so I could beat them."
And beat them he did. Johnson went on to increase his talents at horseshoes and eventually started competing in tournaments. He moved to Jefferson City in 1975.
In 2015, Johnson won the state tournament just months after he was part of a four-man team that won the Team World Tournament in Wisconsin, and he claimed 12th place in the Individual World Tournament.
Johnson's average ringer ratio is 70 percent, and he once made 22 in a row. He also won tournaments at the Jefferson City Jaycees Cole County Fair 10 times straight.
The Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission recognized Johnson during its Tuesday meeting before unveiling the new sign bearing his name.
Commission member Brad Bates said Johnson is well deserving of the honor.
"This gentleman has reached a level of excellence in horseshoe pitching that probably all of us combined could never get to," Bates said.
As well as being a frequent user of the pitches - often three to four times a week, he said - Johnson can often be found offering his help around the pitch. He's a familiar face to many, especially during the city's horseshoe leagues.
"Oftentimes, we name things for people that got paid to do the job to begin with, but when you have somebody like this who is truly deserving, it makes it great to be able to recognize them," Bates said.