Hall of Fame Inductee - John Jackson

A member of the Class of 1958 dubbed John Jackson the “best all-around athlete” in that graduating class. It would be hard to argue anything different. Jackson won eight letters in an era when the most letters an athlete could earn was nine. If not a shoulder injury suffered during the football season his junior year that kept him from wrestling, he would have earned nine. Jackson was part of the football, wrestling and track programs, and he left a mark on each. He reached the state finals in track as a junior and senior and was a state qualifier in wrestling as a senior. Football, however, is where he stood out. A co-captain as a senior, Jackson recorded 78 tackles and helped the Blue Devils to a x-x record. He was named an honorable mention all-stater by the Chicago Daily News. A member of the National Honor Society and vice president of the senior class, Jackson decided to attend Washington University in St. Louis, where he lettered as a pole vaulter on track team. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from Washington University, Jackson enrolled in law school at the University of Missouri=Columbia and graduated with ahis degree in 1965. Jackson spent two years in the U.S. Army, first as a supply officer in Ingrandes, France, and later as a staff officer at Ft. Campbell, Ky. While at Fort Campbell, he refereed high school wrestling matches and tournaments. In 1967, with his military service complete, Jackson began practicing law in Chicago, where he remains today. Jackson and his wife, Sandy, have two daughters, Andrea and Alison.

Acceptance Speech

"I am proud and grateful to be selected for membership in the Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame. I thank the Selection Committee for its approval of my nomination, and I thank Kent Keim, my teammate and friend, who took the time and effort to gather the information necessary to nominate me for this honor. At Madison grade school I dreamt of participating in high school sports at Quincy High. I was in awe of QHS sports stars like Bruce Brothers, and of Coach George Latham and the great 1951 and 1952 basketball teams. As luck would have it, I did not excel in basketball, but I eventually was able to live my childhood sports dreams while participating in football, track and wrestling, in full view and under the lights. What a wonderful memory! To receive this tribute for doing what I loved to do is truly the icing on the cake for my participation in QHS sports programs. For this I thank my dedicated coaches, most of whom have preceded me into this Hall of Fame. I thank my teammates, without whom I would not have received this honor, and the citizens of Quincy who have steadfastly supported Blue Devil sports since before I was born and have provided spectacular sports facilities for all student athletes. I also thank my mother and father who continuously set high standards for me to achieve, and finally, my brother, Bill, who was my biggest supporter and fan. I know of no community in this state, or any other, which is more supportive of its student athletes than Quincy, and I am proud to have grown up here and to have had the opportunity to represent Quincy as an athlete, and attend the local schools and receive the benefit of the fine teachers, coaches, sports program and student activities available in Quincy. I truly appreciate my good fortune. Thank you again for this very special honor."