John E. Blesi – 1938

While at Stivers, John participated on the school’s golf teams. In 1938 he was the No. 1 player and the golf team captain. He also participated in Stivers basketball and found time to join the drama club.

John brought further glory to Stivers and its golf program due to his long career in golf which included:

    *1945 Walnut Grove Golf Club Champion

    *1947 Miami District Golf Title

    *1947 & 49 Medalist DAGA Championship

   *1956 Dayton Amateur Golf Association’s City Champion

    *1958 Quarter Finalist at the National Championship in FL

    * 1966 District Quali-er for US Open sectionals

    * Four time club champion at NCR Country Club

John played against several golf pros in exhibition matches, including Sam Snead 1958 and Byron Nelson 1955. In 1957, John was barely defeated at the Ohio Amateurs by a 17 year old Jack Nicklaus.

John was inducted into the Dayton Amateur Golf Hall of Fame in 1981. The athletic bloodlines continue with his granddaughter, Megan Duffy who played basketball for CJ, and for Notre Dame, and WNBA. She is currently Assistant Head Coach at George Washington University.

John retired from NCR after twenty-nine years of service. He was married for 67 years to his wife Phyllis and had three children, Joan, Jack and Marilyn. John passed away in October 2012

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