Kent Hales

    Johnny, I have just read of your demise (1/08/'15). What a loss to all of us who knew and remembered you! I was looking forward to reminiscing with you of old football stories and sharing new taxi driver tales. Two of my favorite football memories were of you. Who can forget your "great" punt return in the Viewmont game? We all held our breaths and hoped that the ball would never come down, but the pure look of satisfaction on your face as you corraled it, put joy in all our hearts . . . except probably  Martin's.  And, the locker room ritual of observing how easily you would get your uniform on over your pads and when you didn't (West) . . . Oh! The gloom!

    Johnny, I shall miss the ubiqutous glow of your ever present smile and your booming laugh that enveloped us all, if only in my memories. You were a good man and I shall miss you, especially at times when our class comes together as now (50th).

Steve Smith

Johnny, I wish that my last three children could have known you (maybe they did and I didn't know it) they are in theater: Hale WF, Orem and at the Scera. My wife and I had a little to do with their musical abilities but very little.

My wife has gone through cancer three times and always remeinds me that we for the most part don't have much to say about when we enter or leave this life. I always try and remember that when I think about death.

RIP

Carol Hall (Bartholomew)

I was good friends with Johnny, and we went out together on a couple of dates.  He was sweet, kind, and such a gentleman.  After graduation, I always looked for Johnny at our class reunions, but never saw him there.  I later found out that he was self-conscious about never having married nor having any children, and did not feel comfortable attending the reunions for that reason.  I sent hm a card, telling him how much he was missed at the reunions, and that I was hoping to see him at the next one. 

Johnny suffered from severe health problems later in his life, and I tried to reach him by phone at the care center where he was living, but without success.  My one regret about Johnny is that I never successfully contacted him personally before he died.  Lesson learned: our friends need to know that they are appreciated, and that we need to do all we can to tell them so!

Johnny, you were a good friend.  I hope to be able to see you again.

Steve Smith

Carol, You are absolutely correct, we have lost too many at an early age in our class and many of us would have loved to have been envolved during their last years on earth. I was fortunate to be able to spend time with one of my best friends growing up in our neighborhood. He was a year ahead of us at East and went through a long battle with cancer after his tour in Veitnam. He passed away two years ago but I was able to help him personally during his treatments at the VA hospital. Steve

David Geordge

Many times during my adult life,  I wondered where you were ?

I have been back to SLC many times, and every time I looked for you.  Several years ago, your phone # was listed, and I tried to reach you !

I remember several things about those long past days ;

Our tryouts for Football, meeting every morning before school in the hallways, meeting girls, double dating, then away from school in the summer of 1964, riding around the neighberhoods while you that Ice Truck !!!

I'm espescially moved by the report of your passing.  To one of my all-time best friends @ EHS !

Blessings and may God hold your soul in his arms !!!

Dave Geordge...Class of 65.

Monte Hancock

Whenever I had a problem with my books etc, John would always run to my aid, then he would walk me to my next class.  He was a good friend.