Hall of Fame Inductees
John was a young black man from Philadelphia, who came to Wesleyan in 1964, when there were not many that looked like him. Even with the challenges those of color faced during that time, John would go on to create a legacy that lives on to this day, despite his passing on July 5, 1998.
A devastating wrestler in his day, John won the New England title in his junior season at 167 pounds before capturing another championship, this time at 177 pounds, as a senior in 1967. He was a three-sport athlete at Wesleyan, participating in football, wrestling (co-captain) and track teams.
John was a fullback/linebacker on the football team. He wrestled at both 167 and 177, going undefeated in his career in dual meets while taking home both ECAC and New England Championships. In addition, he competed as a decathlete for the track team.
He majored in mathematics and physics in the college of quantitative studies. Outside of athletics, he engaged on campus as a member of the Independents, Theta Nu Epsilon and Skull & Serpent.
After Wesleyan, John went on to obtain his PhD in philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania. Competing to earn a spot on Team USA, John was the first runner-up in Greco-Roman wrestling for the 1968 Olympic Trials. He was also an excellent rugby player and after graduation played for the Mystic Rugby Club in Boston and for Old Methodist, Wesleyan’s men’s alumni team.
