John Lewis, junior football official; born August 5, 1925, died September 19, 1999
THE junior football world is
a sadder place this week following the death of John Lewis,
who served the game in
various capacities during the past half-century.
John was born in Perth in 1925 and at an early age moved to Beith, Ayrshire.
He played football with a number of amateur clubs before becoming involved with the local club Beith Juniors,
where he held the post of
minute secretary, secretary
and then treasurer between 1949 and 1958.
He was made a life member and honorary president of the Ayrshire region of the Junior FA and also a life member of the West of Scotland Association.
In 1958 he was appointed secretary of the Western League and held this post for eight
years until 1966 when he was appointed assistant secretary of the Scottish Junior Football Association, a position he held until 1974. At the annual
meeting held in Aberdeen that year, following the retiral
of Scoular Lawson, John was elected treasurer of the
junior association.
His knowledge and experience of the junior game was invaluable and his calculated views and opinions on football matters were listened to and invariably acted upon.
One of the most valuable things that a person can donate to any organisation is their time, and this was readily given by John, whose commitment was recognised by the National Service to Sports Award in 1966.
He was made an honorary president of the junior association at their annual general meeting in June.
John's enthusiasm, pawky humour, and his mischievous smile endeared him to a lot of people and will be remembered with great fondness.
John also achieved a distinguished business career. From 1966 he was employed by plumbing product manufacturers McAlpine and Co. As general manager, he was instrumental in setting up their new Johnstone factory which, by the time of his retirement in 1989, employed around 150 people.
He remained a consultant with the company until ill-health forced him to give up earlier
this year.
John is survived by his wife Linda, three sons, daughter, and two stepdaughters.
Tom Johnston
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