John Roberts graduated from Valley High School, West Des Moines, Iowa, where he was a 2 time state champion. In 1938 he went to the Wisconsin campus where he won 2 Big Ten Wrestling Titles (1941 and 1942), and played on the Varsity football team. From 1946 - 1952 he was Athletic Director and Coach at Stevens Point where his team won the 1949 State Championship and placed 2nd in 1950 and 1951. He joined the staff at Stevens Point State College in 1952, where he coached championship teams in football, wrestling and track. John was appointed Executive Secretary in 1957. During his tenure, the state high school wrestling program has more than tripled in the number of schools sponsoring the sport. He was a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations and a respected leader in his role. He was asked to help was a member of the Olympic Wrestling Games Committee and the United States Wrestling Federation Governing Council. John was inducted into the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Hall of Fame on October 18, 1975.