Johnny Lee Kidd was born on October 15, 1952, in Lawrence County, TN, and passed away in Knox County, TN, on February 17, 2025. He graduated from Lawrence County High School as a Top 10 Scholar and earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He developed and implemented accounting software for thirty years before finishing his career as an auditor. He remained loyal to the Tennessee Vols and the Dallas Cowboys through good times and bad, but his favorite players were the children whom he helped develop through his decades of service as an official for youth and high school football, notably including in the 2008 TSSAA Class 2A Championship. Johnny was inducted in the 2016 Knoxville Football Officials Association Hall of Fame. Johnny loved travel, poker, and sports cars; he hated trampolines. He delighted in being a real-life Santa, spoiling his actual and honorary nieces and nephews with Christmas bears, candy, toys, clothes, and consumer electronics (bonus points if a gift annoyed one of his brothers!) Although an “Uncle Johnny present” was always much anticipated, his joyful presence was the best gift to his family and friends. He insisted on living his life on his own terms until the end and had more fun along the way than most people. Johnny is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Martha Kidd; grandparents, Lee and Ruth Kidd and John and Grace Pollock; his uncle and aunt Neal and Edith Kidd; and his brother Jerry Kidd. He is survived by his brothers James Kidd (Ginny) and Larry Kidd (LaShon); sister-in-law Darlene Kidd; nieces, Jamie Frawley (Arthur), Brooke Swilling (Ryan), and Savanna Kidd; nephews, Harold Kidd (Heather) and Blake Kidd; great-nieces Hadley Swilling and Helen Frawley, and great-nephews Davey Kidd, Dylan Kidd, and Carter Swilling. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.
