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EAGLE LAKE — For nearly half a century, Mike Grigar and Johnny’s Sport Shop were intertwined in Eagle Lake.
Grigar went from a high school senior offered his first job at the store, to its longtime manager, to owner and eventually the man entrusted with carrying on a business that had already become an Eagle Lake institution.
Michael Louis “Mike” Grigar died Sept. 23 at his home in Eagle Lake. He was 72.
Following his death, Johnny’s Sport Shop remembered Grigar not only for his 29 years as owner, but also for the relationships he built during decades behind the counter.
“Mike was so much more than the owner of Johnny’s,” the business shared in a social media post. “He was a dear friend, a mentor, and a true part of the heart of Eagle Lake.”
A LIFETIME AT JOHNNY’S
Grigar’s relationship with Johnny’s Sport Shop began before he graduated from Rice High School in 1972.
During the spring of his senior year, Johnny Meitzen called and offered Grigar a job at the store. He accepted, beginning an association with Johnny’s that would span 46 years.
The April 13, 1989, edition of The Eagle Lake Headlight reported that Grigar and his wife, Melody, had purchased Johnny’s Sport Shop from Johnny and Pat Meitzen.
By then, Grigar had worked alongside Meitzen at the business for 17 years and had served as store manager for 10 years.
He would go on to own Johnny’s for 29 years before retiring.
His knowledge of the outdoors and ability as a salesman contributed to his success, but those who knew him said the relationships he developed through the business became an equally important part of his legacy. His years at Johnny’s resulted in hundreds of friendships that remained with him throughout his life.
That connection continued when it came time for Grigar to pass the business on to its next owners.
“For 29 years, Mike Grigar lovingly carried on the legacy of Johnny’s Sport Shop after Johnny Meitzen — and when the time came to pass that legacy on, we were incredibly honored that he trusted us,” Johnny’s Sport Shop shared.
The business credited Grigar’s dedication, knowledge and love for Eagle Lake with helping shape Johnny’s into what it is today.
“We will forever be grateful for his friendship, his guidance, and the trust he placed in us to continue something that meant so much to him,” the post continued.
MORE THAN A BUSINESSMAN
Grigar’s connection to Eagle Lake extended well beyond the sporting goods store.
A 1972 graduate of Rice High School, he remained a familiar presence at Rice sporting events throughout his life. He coached Little League baseball and softball as a father and later enthusiastically followed the athletic accomplishments and activities of his four grandchildren.
His own interests included slow-pitch softball, bowling and hunting, but fishing was his greatest outdoor passion. Boating and saltwater fishing along the Texas Gulf Coast remained favorite pastimes and produced friendships of their own.
Still, family remained at the center of his life.
Grigar and Melody Leigh Farris married Oct. 18, 1975, at Colly Memorial Methodist Church in Eagle Lake. They celebrated 50 years of marriage before his death.
After nearly five decades associated with one of Eagle Lake’s longtime businesses, Grigar leaves behind a legacy reflected not only in the store he helped preserve, but in generations of customers, friends and family who knew him.
“Eagle Lake lost a legend. We lost a dear friend,” Johnny’s Sport Shop shared. “Mike’s legacy will live on through Johnny’s and through the countless lives he touched along the way.”
Grigar’s complete obituary appears on Page 16 of this week’s edition of the Colorado County Citizen, including information about his family, services and memorial contributions.
