John excelled in three sports at Stivers High School. He earned his first Varsity letter as a freshman in baseball, although that was not his first love – his true loves being basketball and football. John played all four years of basketball, earning various honors each year.
John credits Larry Shadowens for teaching him his jump shot and Bob Mayberry, for the way he loves to play the game. If you were on a fast break and you were open and didn’t throw it up, you would be sitting beside him, John loved playing for Bob. John played three years of football as well, two years for Ron McFarland who called John the “The Best Blocking Fullback in the City League.”
Overall John earned six Varsity letters and several awards, two-time Special Mention All-City in both basketball and football. The Tigers were “Sectional Champions” in basketball in 1970. He was named “Tiger of the Week” for beating Fairview on a last second jump shot and lighting up Yellow Springs for 24 points in an upset victory. He acquired his love for sports by growing up on the Campus of the University of Dayton.
Don May was his idol. He also attended the Don Donoher Basketball camp in 1970. John has been married to his lovely wife and soul mate, Mary Pohl Henry for 25 years and has five wonderful children; Melissa, Matt, Alex, Max and Emma. He also has three beautiful grandchildren; Dillon, Ella and Jaylon.
John worked at the Dayton Daily News as a Circulation Manager for 13 years, then moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he currently works for “Ohio’s Greatest Newspaper”, the Columbus Dispatch.
Currently, he is the City & State Circulation Manager. He has worked with a great group of people at the Dispatch for over 25 years. A very smart person once told John, it’s all about ‘Family and Relationship;’ he has lived by that message… “God Has Been Good To John”.