University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame
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John B. Shepard 1922 - Cross Country, Track and Field
When you talk of top scholar-athletes from the UVM past, the name John B. Shepard, a 1975 Hall of Fame inductee, always crops up, as this former track star went on to become one of the top educators in California, holding the position of president of Pierce College in Los Angeles from 1955 to 1966.
Specializing in the 880 event, he finished second in his first collegiate race and thereafter was undefeated in dual or triangular competition, establishing a University record in his third race and gradually lowering it to 2:004, a mark which stood until 1949. His fastest unofficial time was a 1:58.6 in the New Englands in 1921. In addition to track, he also ran cross-country and the indoor relays in 1921 and 1922.
A Barre, Vt.-native and a Kappa Sigma fraternity brother, Shepard in his senior year was the ranking cadet officer in ROTC program and was a member of Scabbard and Blade. Maintaining his interests in the military, he left the active service in 1946 retiring as a Colonel.
Always active in UVM alumni activities, Shepard served as president of the Southern California Alumni Club and he was presented with the Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1965.
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