Hall of Fame
As a junior and senior at Coe, John W. Hearn earned the Clem Wilson Award as Most Valuable member of the track team. The award won by Hearn was named after Clem Wilson, the Coe track man whose Silver Medal in the 1912 Olympics launched seven decades of superb track performances at Coe College. The Midwest Conference championship won in John's senior year was the eighth consecutive Midwest title won by Coach Wayne Phillips and his track and field men. John Hearn earned three varsity letters in football and four in track at Coe. In football, he was defensive safety. In track he ran the 400 meters and was on 4x400 relay teams in meet after meet. Once at the Drake Relays, he ran in five relay events in a single day. Holder of records in both 400 meters and the 4x400 meter relays, Hearn and his relay teammates won eight outdoor Midwest Conference championships as well as several indoor titles. In track meets at other colleges throughout his four years John won 17 first places. In each of his four years he won one of the highly prized awards sponsored by former track coach Harris Lamb '27. He was captain of the championship team in 1979 which brought home that eighth consecutive conference title. John went on to a career of teaching and coaching at Dubuque Senior High School. He was Mississippi Valley Coach of the Year in 1993, '94 and '95, and he has been awarded the Iowa Football Coaches Association Service Award for 15 years of service. John Hearn was one of the most spectacular performers in a spectacular era of Coe track and field. We welcome him into the Kohawk Hall of Fame in recognition of many races well run.
