John Shropshire, 62, died suddenly on June 5, 2001. Shropshire, a 1961 Clarion University of Pennsylvania graduate, was a recipient of the 1999 Distinguished Service Award from the Clarion University Alumni Association, the 1997 Outstanding Service Award presented by the Clarion University Student Senate, and the 2001 Outstanding Service Award presented by the Clarion University Black Alumni Association in Philadelphia.

"The entire Clarion University community is deeply saddened by the news of John Shropshire's untimely death," says President Diane L. Reinhard. "As a proud Clarion alum and dedicated administrator with nearly 30 years of service, John had a major impact on this university. As Dean of Enrollment Management, he was personally responsible for attracting scores of outstanding students to Clarion University and providing them with encouragement and support while they were here. John has left a very fine legacy to his alma mater."

Born, Sept. 6, 1938 in Pittsburgh, he was the son of late John Shropshire and Willa Shropshire Johnson. Shropshire enrolled at Clarion in 1957. He earned three letters in football and was a member of Student Senate. Retired Clarion University athletic director Frank Lignelli coached
Shropshire as a student and later worked with him in admissions. "I considered him a good friend, he will be missed," says Lignelli. "John was an outstanding two-way lineman on the football team. John was also a good student and I was always impressed with his work ethic."

Shropshire received his degree in English and secondary education social studies in 1961. He continued his education at Shippensburg, Yale, and Penn State.

He taught and coached sports and debate for 11 years in the Central Dauphin School District, where he was the first black head coach in central Pennsylvania. He returned to Clarion State College in 1972 as an assistant director of admissions and was named director of admissions in 1978. His interest in athletics continued while he served in admissions and he was a standing member of the Clarion University Hall of Fame Committee from 1993 to the present.

In the fall 1999 election Shropshire was elected the first black county commissioner in northern Pennsylvania, an accomplishment cited in "Jet" magazine. The responsibilities of the new position prompted his retirement from Clarion University. He was the commissioner representative to the Workforce Development Committee, County Fair Board, Economic Development Corporation, Community Action, County Planning Commission, solid waste, prison board, and Human Services Council. A longtime supporter of minority education opportunities, Shropshire received the prestigious Mary Davis Baltimore Award from the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education Inc. (PBCOHE) in 1998. The award, named in honor of Mary Davis Baltimore a co founder, along with K. Leroy Irvis of PBCOHE, recognizes a person who has shown exemplary service and contributions to the organization over a period of years. Shropshire was PBCOHE president from 1996-98, and was chair of the Educational Police Committee since 1996.

"He was like a father to minority athletes and minority students as a whole," say Lignelli. "His door was always open because he was interested in seeing them complete their education. He knew that was the key to opening the doors of their future."

The Clarion University African American Caucus honored Shropshire by naming one of its annual awards, the John S. Shropshire Award. The first award was presented in May at the Minority Student Services Recognition Dinner. The recipient of the award must be a senior and/or graduating, with the highest grade point average over 3.0, be African American, must have been active in an NCAA intercollegiate sport, preferably completing a four-year eligibility, and
must have been in residence at Clarion for two semesters.

Among his many community activities, Shropshire was a member and past-president of the Clarion Chapter of the International Rotary Club; a founder of the Clarion County Ethnic Tolerance Coalition and its chair since 1998; and was a member of the board of directors and a past president of the Jefferson-Clarion County Communication Action.

Previously he was on the board of directors of both the Clarion County Red Cross and the Greater Harrisburg Area YMCAs. He was president of the Clarion County Municipal Officers Association from 1990-94; a member of the Clarion County Tax Reform Committee; Pennsylvania Association of College and School Counselors 1973-2000; Faculty Associations College Admissions Course at Bucknell University; American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Officers of Admission Chairperson of the Enrollment Management Committee; and Pennsylvania Universities Admission Association President for three years. He was a Paint Township Supervisor from 1983-2000 and received the 1999 Outstanding Township Supervisor Award from the Clarion County Municipal Officers Association.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Clarion University Foundation, John S. Shropshire Scholarship, Haskell House, Clarion University, Clarion, Pa. 16214.

--Taken from a Clarion University News Release