True–Blue and Gold (pants)

To those who know him, the fact that John Minton '46 has remembered Burroughs in his estate planning will come as no surprise. John, who celebrated his 70th reunion with classmates in 2016, is a loyal supporter of all things Burroughs. His true-blue and gold spirit was clearly revealed in his choice of apparel for the 2013 Athletic Center opening.

John has served his class and school in a variety of ways—as a member and president of the Alumni Board, as a phonathon caller for Annual Giving and as a loyal Bombers fan. In 2004, when Debbie Deutch '68 introduced John as the recipient of the Alumni Distinguished Service Award, she described him as "wise, gentle and insightful." She continued, "John loves Burroughs, and the feeling is mutual."

According to his senior page in the 1946 Review, John, a three-sport letterman, was a "mighty mite in action." He stood out "athletically, academically and socially," and even "crossed up everybody and ran 60 yards against a bewildered Country Dazed team."

School's Philosophy Remains the Same
John describes his Burroughs experience as somewhat "Spartan." He says, "When I attended JBS, the entire staff consisted of the headmaster, his secretary and one maintenance man! The only building remaining from my Burroughs days is the main administration building."

One thing that hasn't changed, he says, is the school's philosophy.

"Burroughs was founded on the importance of equal emphasis on academics, including the arts, activities and athletics, and I feel that balance is vital to healthy growth," he says.

Building a Lifelong Foundation
John also feels that character building is an essential part of being a Burroughs student. He describes loving JBS as being "touched by the magic."

"Burroughs built a foundation for me that has stayed with me my entire life, and that's why I want to give back. It's hard to explain much beyond that. I have come to understand that you can love a place the same way you love a person and never fully need to know the reason why," he says.