Hall of Fame
John Edward Wall was born in Los Angeles, and attended Roosevelt High School, where he ran the 5K, the 10K, and the mile in track. He attended USF and ran on the Track and Field team from 1932 to 1935. He finished third in the mile at the 1932 California State Meet at Modesto Junior College on May 21, 1932. He was a record holder in the mile at USF with a time of 4:23.2 set at Fresno State on March, 30, 1935, and a record holder in the distance medley relay. He was a member of the United States team in the Berlin Olympics in 1936. He held numerous world records in running in various age groups, and won 19 national Masters Championships in track.Â
After graduation from USF in 1935, he ran with Hall of Fame colleague Fred Walts for the San Francisco Olympic Club. The duo set a World Record in the 2 1/2 mile four-man relay. He served in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1946, and then in the Naval Reserve for 17 years at the rank of Lieutenant Commander. There is an annual John Wall One Mile Track Run at Annapolis, named in his honor because he loved that particular race format.Â
He taught in Hershey, PA and in Roanoke, VA for six years, prior to becoming an administrator in the Baltimore City School System in 1947, a position he held until 1975.Â
John Wall was inducted into the USF Hall of Fame in 1985.
Photo courtesy of Provident Credit Union Dons Honor Club.
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