John is a Canton, Ohio native who graduated from Canton Lincoln High School in 1960. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in l964 from Mt. Union College and a Master of Arts Degree in1969 from the University of Akron. Additional graduate work was completed at Kent State, Cleveland State and Bowling Green State Universities.
He taught English at Canton Lincoln High School for two years while coaching junior high basketball and track and field. He then moved to Elyria High School for four years where his position included head baseball coach, assistant basketball coach and teacher. From 1970 - 1980 he was head basketball coach and taught at Olmsted Falls High School where he also served as an assistant principal for three years. In 1980, he returned to Elyria to teach and serve as head basketball coach until 1983. He served one year as an assistant principal at Northwood Junior High before moving to Columbia High School as assistant principal. After serving in that capacity for two years, he was named high school principal and served for nine years in that position.
Prior to his retirement in September, 2008, he worked as an assistant commissioner with the OHSAA for 13 years. In addition to performing numerous administrative duties during his tenure, his specific sport responsibilities included baseball, basketball, golf and soccer, while assisting with football. During that time, he served as a rules interpreter for baseball, basketball and football. John is continuing on a part-time basis, serving as a rules interpreter and as an administrator/consultant for the sport of golf.
John is a member of the Lorain County Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, the OSSCA Hall of Fame, and the OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame. He has been a registered football official in Ohio for 43 years, having officiated in 46 state tournament contests including 11 state championship games. In 1999, he was chosen and inducted as a member of the Canton Lincoln Distinguished Alumni Association. He served on the Northeast District Athletic Board for nine years and was president of the OHSAA Board of Control in 1993-94. In 2005, he received the Naismith Meritorious Service Award.
He and wife Elaine, a retired school teacher, live in Powell. They are parents of a daughter, Lora Beck, a graduate of the University of Dayton who resides with her husband Michael in Columbus. Son Doug, a graduate of Baldwin Wallace College, lives in Lakewood.