Greenville CollegeJohn StrahlTo our campus community … Dr. John M. Strahl passed away on Sunday, August 31, at his home with his wife and family by his side. The following arrangements have been made. Visitation: Funeral Service: Memorials can be made to Greenville College for the John Strahl Athletic Development Fund. Please keep the Strahl family in your prayers. To our campus community from President Emeritus Robert E. Dear Friends and Family, John Strahl recently found out that he has a fast growing type of cancer in his stomach for which neither surgery nor chemo/radiation will help. Therefore, he learned that the best thing for him is to return to Greenville and get hospice help for the remainder of his time here on earth. Allow me to reminisce just a little. When I thought about not always getting the news from God that I think is best, I was reminded of my first encounter with John Strahl as a college sophomore at Central College, still mistakenly thinking that I was an athlete that might help Greenville College. Fortunately (although I thought unfortunately at the time), John Strahl had three of my friends already here at Greenville College (Jack Trager, Bob Briner, and Arnold Kugler) who evidently were truthful with Coach about what I might bring (or not bring) to the athletic program here for my junior and senior years. So, when John came to "recruit" me, his recruiting pitch went something like this, "Ish, your buddies have told me that you are planning on coming to Greenville and I am pleased to know that (so far, so good … but there is more to come)". Then came the surprise: "My student manager, Dick, is graduating next year and I would love to have you come and be my manager for the next two years and help me coach." NOT WHAT I EXPECTED NOR WANTED AT THE TIME. But, that day changed my life forever!!! No more was I an athlete, rather an athletic administrator (well, that is a fancy word for a "manager") and a COACH. Rather than graduating from GC in 1957 having sat on a bench or benches, I left having almost two years of coaching experience. And in 1960, when John needed someone to come back and join his staff, fortunately for me it was his old manager and student coach who got the nod … AND HOW BLESSED AND FORTUNATE I WAS AND HAVE BEEN FOR NOW SOME 43 YEARS. But, the parallel to this morning is that someone (in my case, Coach Strahl) knew what was best for me, and with that same certainty I believe that our Lord knows what is best for John Strahl … and I rest in that faith and expectation. One word of suggestion … What I think John will benefit from most, in the time that he has left, is hearing from those of you who know and love him, primarily stressing specifics of how important he has been to you; recalling important times; reminding him of the expectation that we have of an eternal reunion with him; and assuring him of your continuing prayers. John’s address is as follows: 508 Killarney Drive, Greenville, IL 62246. Blessings, Bob "Ish" Smith John Milton StrahlJuly 1, 1924- August 31, 2003 John Milton Strahl was born in New Philadelphia, Ohio on July 1, 1924. He was the oldest of twins, the other child being his sister, Jean. His parents were Theodore and Wilma Plants Strahl who are deceased. Ruth Peffer, his oldest sister passed away in 1993. Jean Goble of Sun City West, AZ survives as does his sister, Clarice Brady of Bourbonnais, IL. He is survived by his wife June Starr Strahl, whom he married in Springfield, IL on June 14, 1947. He is also survived by three children, Jill Mohnkern, Greenville, IL; Judith Keffer, St. Louis, MO; and John, Jr. of San Antonio, TX and eight grandchildren. They are: Emily and Timothy Mohnkern; Laura, Rebecca and Brian Keffer; John II, Wesley and Taryn Strahl. He was inducted in to the army on March 4, 1943 and served in World War II in the Thunderbird Division, 189th Field Artillery Battalion, 5th Army. He served in North Africa, Italy (battle of Anizo France and Germany. He was discharged in October of 1945 with the rank of Technical Corporal having been awarded the Army’s Good conduct Medal and Meritorious Service Unit Plaque. Upon his return to civilian life he reentered Olivet Nazarene College to continue his education. He then graduated from Taylor University in May of 1949 having played varsity basketball and tennis there. The advanced degree of Master of Science in Education was awarded him in the spring of 1950 at the University of Illinois, Champaign. On Memorial Day 1950, Dr. H. J. Long, president of Greenville College interviewed him for the positions of athletic director, basketball coach and tennis coach at Greenville College. As he often said, “I came for a year and stayed a life time.” The “life time” included 27 years as athletic director, and coach for 15 years as men’s basketball, 27 years tennis, 4 years baseball, 6 years soccer. He started the men’s track program in 1952 and coached it for several years. Dr. Strahl’s philosophy, lived out in his own life and encouraged to all with whom he worked was “seek to do an excellent job in your work at Greenville College, but also get involved outside the College in your profession and try to make a contribution there also.” From 1950 until 1977 John Strahl directed both the athletic and physical education departments, taken them from their infancy to maturity as major Greenville College programs. For the remainder of his forty years at the College he served as Associate Vice President of Development for Alumni Affairs. During Strahl’s first three decades of leadership he saw the men’s athletic program go from the three sports of baseball, basketball, and tennis to also include track and field, cross country, golf and soccer. The woman’s program went from a very modest club level to include five intercollegiate sports of basketball, field hockey, softball, tennis and volleyball. Major improvements to the athletic facilities occurred during Strahl’s years, including the J. J. Long Gymnasium; the Scott Burgess Memorial Tennis complex, and Frances Field including the soccer, baseball, and softball areas. Coach Strahl touched the lives of players on sixty-seven teams and at one time or another, he coached all of the seven men’s sports. His two major sports were basketball and tennis in which he amassed a combined record of 431 wins with only 246 losses. Thirteen times he was named as the Prairie College Conference Coach-of-the-Year. In one streak his tennis teams won 8 consecutive PCC titles including the 1971 teams’ perfect 12-0 record. His 1956 basketball team had an amazing 25-5 season and both teams are now in the G.C. Athletic Hall of Fame. John and June Strahl inherited a physical education program with less than a dozen majors and over the next decade established a program that during the 60’s had up to 150 majors and minors, the largest academic major in the college. This program was particularly unique in the high percentage of majors who went on to earn advanced graduate degrees and accept positions in Christian colleges throughout our country. Coach Strahl’s record of professional excellence and contributions away from Greenville College was as outstanding as was his on-campus successes. He was a key founder and charter member of the Christian Physical Education Association and hosted its first National Convention. He was a founding member of the Prairie College Conference and its first Vice President. Dr. Strahl’s greatest professional contributions were made to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. He became involved first in 1957 when he was named secretary-treasurer of NAI District 20 (Illinois) and continued for two decades, culminating in being named as the national President of the NAIA in 1977. At every level of leadership (state, district, national) he left a legacy of improving the NAIA with new programs and services. One of the greatest joys of Strahl’s leadership time was found in the six years he served on the United States Olympic Committee where he represented the NAIA; served on several key USOC committees; and attended both Pan American and Olympic games. In 1977, President Richard Stephens asked Coach Strahl to begin a new era of his life, serving as Associate Vice President of Development for Alumni Affairs. For the next thirteen years “Coach” Strahl became “Mr. Greenville College” to thousands of alumni across the country as he hosted the on-campus alumni activities including Homecoming (which he started in 1953 with an alumni basketball game); class reunions; and the annual Alumni Banquet. From California and Washington to New York and Florida, each year Strahl would host some thirty Alumni meetings and as he would say “shake hands with over 1500 alumni’. Numerous new alumni programs were initiated during the “Strahl years” including the Hogue luncheons for the senior alumni; honors programs for Outstanding Young Alumni, the Faculty; the Loyalty award, and the Parent’s Award. Although John Strahl would help with the college’s development or fund raising programs, he took responsibility for and championed it’s “fun and friend raising” efforts. Coach Strahl received numerous awards. In 1976 Greenville College conferred upon their coach its highest academic honor, the Honorary Doctorate of Education. When the college established its Athletic Hall of Fame, John and June Strahl were the first two inductees. Also in the mid-1970’s, Greenville College established both the June Starr Strahl Award and the John M. Strahl Award which annually have gone to the outstanding senior female and male physical education majors. Both of Dr. Strahl’s undergraduate alma maters have honored him for his life of excellence. In 1978 he was selected for the honor of Taylor University’s Chamber of Achievement Award and in 2002 the Olivet Nazarene University Alumni Association selected John to the highest honor that can be given to an alumni athlete who played prior to their establishing an intercollegiate athletic program. Possibly his highest award occurred in 1976 when he was inducted into the NAI Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service. John Strahl will be remembered for so much more than wins and losses; programs; and honors. To most he will be remembered for his influence for good and for God on the lives of so many who claimed him as coach, professor, colleague and friend. Gifts in memory of Dr. John Strahl can be given to the Greenville
College Athletic Development Fund.
Last updated: September
4, 2003 |