John Seward’s brilliant basketball career at Duke University was outshined only by his remarkable record of community service to Johnson City and the state of Tennessee after his glorious college days.
Seward made the All-Southern basketball team while a member of the Duke Blue Devils in 1943. His stellar sports career was then interrupted by World War II. Serving with the 103rd Infantry Division in Europe, the Virginia native was captured and spent the duration as a prisoner of war. Showing great fortitude and strength of character, Seward returned to Duke, where he was elected president of the Student Government Association. He was able to resume his basketball career, captaining the Blue Devils in 1946 and 1947 and was again named to the All-Southern team each of those years.
An All-American in 1947, Seward played in the gold medal tournaments of 1948 and 1949. After graduating, he joined the Paty Company in 1947 and helped develop the modest lumber business into a regional chain of home improvement stores.
The list of Johnson City organizations Seward has served through the years is long and so are the honors, which include Kiwanian of the Year in 1974 and the 1993 Spirit of Johnson City Award. A true hero, John Seward has left his mark on his college, his country, and the proud state of Tennessee.