Competing for a high school known for athletic excellence and in an era of multi-sport athletes, John Marshall’s accomplishments on the gridiron, hardwood and field events for Ridgewood High School makes him a worthy inductee into the Ridgewood H.S. Athletic Hall of Fame. A 1971 graduate of RHS, John excelled on the football field for 2012 Hall of Fame inductee Roger Sweeney. During the winter months John toiled for fellow 2014 Hall of Fame inductee Coach Jim Bruni and during the spring John displayed his talents out on the field competing in the shot put and discus for the RHS thin clads where he set school records that stood for decades.

John earned two varsity letters in football as a quarterback and running back. Coach Sweeney remembered John as,

“A quarterback with good skills, but he would mean more to the team as a running back. John’s speed, toughness and strong arm were assets for an outstanding tailback. He worked hard at his new-given task. His talent, work ethic and personality would lead him to be the best running back in the county.”

John was outstanding for a 7-2 Maroons squad that lost both games by a combined 5 points. John handled the punting, punt return, and kick return duties in his senior year and his 40+ yards per punt average was one of the best of his era. John was named first team All-Bergen County by the Bergen Record back when only 11 players were selected on each side of the ball. In basketball he was an outstanding “2” guard with a picture perfect and a deadly jump shot, a great man to man defender and one of the best foul shooters in North Jersey. He made second team all-NNJIL his senior year with a 16.1 points per game scoring average and was a leader of a team that was rebuilding following the outstanding 1969-1970 season. During the spring track season, John was “a field guy”, and what a field guy he was. Despite having the ability to compete on the track, he chose to concentrate on the shot and discus where he set school records in both events. His 51 foot shot put record stood until 1980 and his 157’11” discus record stood for 39 years until broken in 2010 with a 163’1” toss by Jack Simmons. John also jumped over 21’ in the long jump showing his versatility. He helped lead his 1971 Maroons track team to a Co NNJIL Championship and a state group 4 sectional title. The true three sport athletes seem fewer and fewer today. John Marshall was a true three sport athlete. Never weighing more than 185lbs, he excelled on the football field in the legendary NNJIL of the 1970’s. He competed on the basketball court for the Maroons in what some call the glory days of basketball in northern New Jersey, and even though he had the speed and quickness to compete on the track for Ridgewood, he chose to concentrate on events usually dominated by athletes much larger than him. His attention to detail and proper form allowed him to excel at three very different sports, and set records that stood for a very long time. Because of the uniqueness of his accomplishments in three sports and the demands for training and organization that that kind of involvement in sport demands, today’s athletes and students can look to John’s example of a life well lived through dedication to an ideal of excellence in multiple facets of his life. We are happy to bring John Marshall into the Ridgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame with the Class of 2014 to serve as an example, to all, of diversified excellence in a world narrowed by specialization.

John is a resident of Ewing, New Jersey today and works professionally as an Actuary in the insurance industry. But, sure to the diversified approach he took in his athletic life, he also is diversified in his later years by bringing hope through prison ministries throughout the state.

One friend describes John as “a quiet guy who needs to be recognized.” It is our pleasure to recognize John’s accomplishments with his induction into the Ridgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame.