`living' is not the same thing as `making a life'." John
result is an existence full of generosity and goodwill.
a place that has become near to his heart. After serving in
the United States Navy during World War II, John went on
to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he
found his place as part of a team. As a quarterback on the
150-pound Big 10 football team and a cocksman on the
rowing crew, John honed in on leadership skills that would
prove to be bene cial later in his life.
joined his oldest brother, Bill, at Gold Medal, a company
that produced casual furniture and the world-famous
`director's chairs'. The lead he took in athletics prepared him
to transition a business that served as a factory for military
supplies during the war. While Bill maintained the company
from the inside, John worked on the road, seeking out sales
representatives and establishing new contracts with Warner
Brothers, MGM Grand and other production companies, as
well as businesses like Crate and Barrel.
loving wife Jane, who took care of their three children, Susan
`71, Rick `74 and Carolyn `75. It was because of Jane and the
Gittings' relationship with Sam and Gene Johnson that all
three children received their education from The Prairie
School, and it was Prairie that gave John a place to serve.
Almost immediately, John was elected to the Board of
Trustees, on which he served for 45 years. "In our meetings,
my rst question was always, `What's best for the school?'"
said John. "The students and their education were my
priority." Always seeking new ways to fundraise and give
trustee, the late Joe Marino, started the event now known as
The Prairie Scholarship Golf Classic, which is in its 16th year
of existence.
back to Prairie. John was part of the Legacy of Leadership
Campaign Steering Committee, chaired by long-time Prairie
supporter Ray Farley. The team was responsible for raising
funds to construct the state-of-the-art Johnson Athletic
Center. A strong advocate for athletics, John could always be
found at a match or game that one of his three children was
involved in. His dedication to the Hawks led to his induction
into The Prairie School Athletic Hall of Fame in June of 2012,
an award that he considers an honor.
husband and father, a clever businessman, and a
philanthropist, to name a few. He has made his life about the
experience and the people alongside him, and Prairie is the
grateful recipient of his philosophy.