The Lake Forest College Department of Athletics is proud to announce that the 2023 Forester Impact Award honoree will be John Nelson '63. The award is sponsored by the Forester Athletic Network (F.A.N. Club) and will be presented at the Athletic Recognition Ceremony during the College's Homecoming Weekend, October 6-7.
The Forester Impact Award honors individuals who have made a significant impact on athletics at Lake Forest College through their loyal support and whose consistent and meritorious commitment has contributed to the success of Forester Athletics. These individuals have gone above and beyond in serving and supporting the Forester athletic community. Nelson joins Karen Hermann, Spike Gummere, Paula Dau '58, Bob Tiernan '49, Tom Franke '63, and the late Jean and Frank Mohr '52 as recipients of the award.
Nelson's contributions to Forester Athletics began while he was a student. After playing basketball as a sophomore, he joined the coaching staff, directing the junior varsity team and assisting with the varsity program. Nelson also played golf as a junior and senior while serving as sports information director. He was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Academic Honor Society and graduated in 1963 with a degree in political science. He later earned a master's and PhD from the University of Chicago.
After two years as an instructor and basketball coach at American Community High School in Beirut, Nelson returned to the College in 1969. He was a faculty member for six years, including one as the assistant director of admissions and the final two as athletic director and head men's basketball coach. Nelson was instrumental in Lake Forest joining the Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1974 and his team posted a winning record (12-10 overall, 9-7 in what is now the Midwest Conference) that season for the first time in 14 years.
Nelson left Lake Forest in 1976 and had a successful management career with GTE in the telefony industry.
Over the last few decades Nelson has been extremely involved in many of the College's initiatives and, in 2012, he received Lake Forest's Richard W. Hantke Alumni Teacher Award for his commitment to the field of education. He and Ken Welton, another member of Lake Forest's class of 1963, donated funds to renovate the team meeting rooms in the Sports and Recreation Center and those areas now bear their names. Nelson also funds a pair of annual scholarships, one started by he and his late wife Anne in 2011 and another with Welton that began in 2021, that assist successful students with financial need at the College. He remains in touch with many of the individuals who have received those scholarships.
A longtime active member of the F.A.N. Club, Nelson routinely watches live video webcasts to keep up with the current Foresters, especially the men's basketball team. He also returns to campus annually for the program's Alumni Day and spends time with the players and coaches at practice in the days leading up to the event. He often serves as a mentor to several of the players, both during their time at the College and after graduation.
"To say I am humbled to receive this award is an understatement, especially to be in the company of such outstanding prior awardees," began Nelson. "Lake Forest College has given me so much that it is a joy to be able to give back. Actually, if I deserve an award, it would be for having the good sense to resign as athletic director, thus paving the way for Jackie Slaats to develop the proud Tradition of Excellence that exists today. Thank you to Jackie, the coaches, staff, student-athletes, and supporters that have contributed to it, and to new AD Nicki Pieart and our current Forester staff and teams for working hard to continue it. GO FORESTERS!"
"John's energy and passion for Lake Forest College and Forester Athletics is second to none," states Vice President for Athletics and Career Advancement Jackie Slaats, who has witnessed Nelson's impact on the department during her three decades as a coach and administrator. "He is the epitome of an ideal athletic alumnus, sharing in the excitement of victories, offering support after losses, returning to campus often, mentoring those who come after him, and providing financial support when and where possible. John is the consummate Forester and extremely deserving of this prestigious award."