It is with great honor that St. Teresa High School announces the inaugural Alumnus of the Year Award winner to Class of 1955 Alumnus, John E. “Jack” McCoy.
 
Jack, nominated by Patricia Jones and a number of his other classmates, wrote in his nomination, “We are very proud to call Jack our friend, our classmate, and an inspiration to many. We want to see him receive this award in recognition of his generosity and volunteerism, both directly at St. Teresa and the many other organizations that he supports.”
 
Jack and his wife Barbara, have generously supported St. Teresa in many ways including establishing student scholarships for Catholic students at St. Teresa, naming the football field, gymnasium & gymnasium court, and the recent McCoy Million Dollar Challenge to name a few.

--------More about Jack--------:

Jack’s life journey began in Lafayette, Indiana on November 17^th, 1936.  His parents, Chelsea and Dorothy Clemens McCoy had 5 children - of which Jack was the middle child with two older sisters (Jane and Shirley), and two younger brothers (Dave and Don).  When he was young, he had a large extended family living there.  Jack grew up appreciating family togetherness and the fact that they took care of one another.  Chelsea, a pharmacist, served as a medic in the Air Force while stationed in India.  Upon Chelsea’s end of service in 1945, he returned to his job at Ford Hopkins and was then reassigned to Decatur where he worked at the drug stored located on Prairie and Water Streets.

Despite finishing 4^th grade at St. Lawrence’s grade school in Lafayette, upon entering St. Thomas grade school in Decatur, his father told the teacher that Jack would be in 4^th grade – and so he was!  He continued his Catholic education at St. Teresa.  Jack claims he may have been a little mischievous – giving the nuns a difficult time – although today he speaks of them with love and respect.  It was during his time at St. Teresa where he first developed his passion for running, which he continued throughout his education at Millikin.  And he still walks three miles a day. 

Jack entered the field of higher learning through the back door.  His intent to have a game of tennis with some high-school chums that were pledging the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity turned into Jack being roped into helping to paint their fraternity house instead.  Jack pitched in to help in order to get the job done faster.  While painting, he was approached by an active member that asked if Jack would be interested in joining the SAE fraternity.  Jack thought it would be great fun.  However, when later in the day it was discovered that Jack wasn’t actually enrolled at Millikin, he decided that maybe he’d better take care of that.  So the following Monday, Jack enrolled in Millikin’s School of Business.  His father informed him that Jack would be responsible for his own tuition costs, so Jack assumed that responsibility without hesitation. 

During his four years at Millikin, he was a very involved student.  Not only was he a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, but he also held multiple leadership roles in the fraternity – including pledge trainer and house/summer house manager.  In addition, he was a member of the track team for four years (winning three medals), as well as joining the newly created cross country track team his senior year.  Before graduating from Millikin, Jack also met the love of his life – the future Mrs. McCoy.  More about that later!

In 1959, Jack graduated from Millikin with a Bachelor of Science Degree.  He then entered Purdue University in the fall of 1959, focusing on a career in pharmacy.  His career choice was influenced by two uncles and his father, all pharmacists.  While at Purdue, he limited his activities to affiliations with SAE and Kappa Psi, a pharmacy fraternity.  He graduated in 1963 from the university’s four-year pharmacy program.

Not many people can boast of an employment career lasting some sixty years.  While attending St. Thomas, Jack not only carried papers for the Herald and Review, he also mowed lawns and shoveled snow depending on the season.  While at St. Teresa, Jack worked at Sessel’s Clothing Store after school and evenings at the National Tea Grocery Store.  During his time at Millikin, Jack worked nights at A.E. Staley’s loading 100-pound bags of starch into boxcars, and his summer mornings were spent back at the Herald and Review – but this time as a driver to deliver the papers to the carriers.  Jack said he would pay for his own tuition, and so he did.

Upon graduating from Purdue and receiving his license in pharmacy, Jack returned to Decatur to work at Raycraft Drug Company with his father and father’s partner, Sam Armsworth.  During this time, Jack’s brother Don was now attending the Purdue School of Pharmacy, so once again Jack took on extra financial obligation to support both his family and his brother’s.  He did this by taking on long hours with additional part-time pharmacy work in Taylorville, Petersburg, and Springfield.  And then in 1979, Jack went to work as a pharmacist for Walgreens, retiring after thirty-four years of service.

But Jack could not have done it alone.  Barbara not only encouraged Jack during his personal and professional accomplishments, but she also achieved her own accolades personally and professionally.  Barbara graduated from Millikin University in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish.  While attending Millikin, she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority.  She then went on to earn a master’s degree in education from Eastern Illinois University.   And she did all of this while simultaneously raising a family with Jack.
 
Jack enjoys many hobbies and activities, including reading, traveling, coaching, collecting and volunteering.  He is an avid reader of the newspaper, new magazines, historical books, catholic reading materials, and PBS is his favorite TV station.  He and Barbara have taken their family to visit at least 48 states, and for over 15 years, you could often find Jack on the baseball/softball field coaching his sons and daughters.  You can continue to look for him at St. Teresa sporting events!  Some of their favorite cultural events include Millikin’s Vespers and attending performances at the Sullivan Little Theater, and if you ask Jack about his favorite style of music, he will respond that it is jazz.  Another one of his favorite activities is attending the White House Retreat in St. Louis.

Jack loves to collect items, and among his favorites are small, toy dogs and horses, hand-crafted airplanes, stamps, coins, books, mugs, steins, and baseball caps.  The most recent collection consists of college neckties relevant to children and grandchild.  The McCoys have six children: sons John and Michael, daughters Cathy and Kimberly, and late sons Brian and Daniel.  John and his wife Pam are living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mike and his wife Elizabeth have a home in Fallbrook, CA. Cathy and husband Marc are the closest, living in Wheaton, IL and Granite Bay, California is the home of Kim and husband Doug. 

Jack’s St. Teresa classmates consider Barbara as an honorary member of the Class of ’55.  She attends first Friday mass with Jack and other class members at St. Patrick’s, after which the “Double Nickels” (a nickname bestowed by Father John), all go out to lunch and socialize.  If Jack can’t come, Barbara comes anyway – as part of the family and support group.  

During his lifetime, Jack has accomplished many incredible feats and will claim that his life is filled with many blessings.  At the top of the list is his family.  What are the odds that a blind date at a Pi Beta Phi and Sigma Alpha Epsilon exchange party would bring John Eugene McCoy and Barbara Ann Witzeman together?  This wonderful couple will celebrate their 58^th wedding anniversary in June of this year and plan to continue to support their alma matter and community for as long as they are able.