Akron Public Schools Athletics Hall of Fame Feature - John Tillman

By Ralph N. Paulk, APS Storyteller

John Tillman was a quiet, unassuming student-athlete during his years at North High School in the 1960s. In the heyday of rock and roll, he was more of a cool jazz type, just chilling even when things heated up.

When the North track coaches left his name off the half-miler’s roster, he didn’t protest. Instead, he calmly gathered his things, then headed for home.

However, before Tillman could reach the parking lot, one of his teammates alerted him that he had been added to the “rinks list” – runners designated to start at the back of the pack in a distance event.

“I kind of took offense to that, and that day we were running against Western Reserve Academy, and that’s pretty much where my track career started,” Tillman recalled. “I finished second behind a guy named Tom Thumb, but that’s when I realized I had potential.”

Tillman, with his spot on the team secured, chalked up a string of victories over three years to become one of the most dominant distance runners in City Series history. He capped his career by winning the state championship in 1964. 

“I wanted to be in the quarter mile, but I wasn't quite fast enough,” Tillman recalled.  “I didn't have enough speed to be a quarter-miler, but from time to time I might come in third or fourth.”

Tillman, who competed at Ohio University, can walk instead of run onto the stage to be enshrined into the Akron Public Schools Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 18 at Guy’s Party Center.  

Tillman will be inducted along with nine others, including another North graduate, wrestler Joe Plouse. Other inductees are: East alums Chuck Shuman (coach), Michael Buckner (coach), Frank Williams (track); Shirley Fry (tennis, Central), Whitney Mercilus (football, Garfield), Larry Poole (football, Garfield), Ernie Kusnyer II (basketball, Firestone), George Sisler (baseball, Akron/Central).

“The sad part about this is that I have so many friends and teammates who are no longer around to share this moment,” said Tillman, 79. “It kind of hurts to know they're not around.”

Tillman’s path to the hall of fame began when he dominated the field at the Bellaire Relays along the Ohio River. He captured two gold medals during the first of his three appearances at one of the state’s premier track championships. 

“I showed some promise when I ran the half-mile around 2:02,” said Tillman. “It was a big thing to compete in that event. If you placed at Bellaire, you were supposed to be able to place in the state meet in Columbus.”

Tillman finished fifth during his first trip to Columbus. But he kept reeling in his top challengers until he conquered them all as a senior. Admittedly, Tillman rarely recognized the competition no matter where he ran.

“I don't remember the people who were behind me,” said Tillman, who became the first Ohio high schooler to cover the half mile in 1:55. “I just remember the team coming in first.”

Tillman, though, did keep an eye on one challenge. Ultimately, he and Central graduate, Elmore Banton, would become teammates at Ohio University. 

“(Banton) was like a brother to me,” Tillman remembered. “He was a real good guy. We used to run in the mornings, and that helped strengthen me. We ran quite a few miles together.”

Tillman and Banton weren’t exactly rivals in high school, but they were connected, if only indirectly. Both heard whispers of the other even though inevitable clashes weren’t forthcoming.

Yet, they knew enough about one another to earn each other’s respect. Banton was doing his thing at Central while Tillman was dominating the half-mile in leading North.

Eventually, they would clash at a City Series cross country meet. Banton was in cruise control en route to an easy victory with an adoring crowd cheering him across the finish line.

As the finish line came into focus, Banton suddenly realized that the maddening applause was for Tillman who chased him down only a few steps from the tape. Tillman, who broke the City Series record by an amazing 40 seconds, had a strong, furious kick that stunned Banton who would become the most celebrated cross country coach in the Mid-American Conference while coaching his alma mater.

“I was pretty good, but he passed me the last couple of yards and that was my introduction to John Tillman,” Banton said. “He used to wear one black sock and one gold sock that were pulled all the way up to his knees.”

Banton wasn’t simply some guy. The Summit County Sports Hall of Fame inductee would ultimately become only the second African American to capture the NCAA national championship while at Ohio University.

Tillman joined the United States Marine Corps, and did a tour in Viet Nam. Unsurprisingly, it was difficult to maintain the training regimen that made him a world-class runner.

“I was overweight and it was difficult,” said Tillman, who set the pace in a race in which Jim Ryun set the world 800-meter record at the national track and field championships at Terra Haute, Ind. “It took awhile to get back in shape to run.”

Tillman, representing the Marine Corps, had been expected to compete at the 1968 Summer Olympics trials in Los Angeles. He made it through the qualifier in Sacramento, but being in Viet Nam adversely affected his conditioning. 

Tillman, who in 1996 returned to college to receive both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, was a machinist and programmer at Goodyear Aerospace. Ultimately, he would retire from Akron Public Schools where he taught at several schools – including Jennings, Reimer and Perkins. 

“It was kind of amazing because quite a few of my students were the grandchildren of my friends,” said Tillman, an educator of the year winner. “I had a lot of fun teaching.”

John Tillman – By the Numbers

1963 – His winning time 9:53:5 at state cross country meet

1965 – Set an Ohio University record with a 1:10 clocking in 600-yard run

1963 – Won both the City Series and district individual cross country championships at Goodyear Metropolitan Park where he was undefeated

1966 – Earned All-American honors in the half mile during NCAA Track and Field Championships at Indiana University

2016 – Inducted into Summit Country Sports Hall of Fame