John D. McCord
November 9, 1950- December 8, 2012
John David McCord passed away peacefully at home on December 8, 2012. He was born in Anderson, Indiana on November 9, 1950 and was the son of Charles E. and Helen A. McCord. He lived his entire life in Anderson and Madison County.
John graduated from Madison Heights High School in 1969. He was active in sports during high school including track and field, cross country, basketball and swimming, earning "M" Club jacket in a varsity sport for each season. After graduation he attended Indiana State University on an athletic scholarship in track and field. He was active in the "I" men's club and Phi Epsilon Kappa, honorary during his college years. He graduated in 1973 with a B.S. degree in health and physical education; he also earned a M.A. degree in athletic administration from Ball State University.
John's entire educational career spanned thirty-three years with the Anderson Community Schools beginning as a high school teacher and track coach. He later served as athletic director at Madison Heights High School, only the second of two people to serve in that capacity in the school's history. When ACS consolidated into two schools, John became the athletic director at Anderson High School. He is the only person in the history of the Anderson Community Schools to serve as athletic director at more than one high school. This was a feat of great pride and accomplishment to John.
During his teaching and coaching career he served the Indiana Track and Cross Country Coaches Association as secretary for many years. Also he was a sectional representative and a member of the Indiana Coaches Association. John was named coach of the year in the Olympic Conference numerous times in both cross country and track sports. Later in his administrative career, he was a member of the Indiana Athletic Administrators Association and was a founding member of the Madison County Athletic Directors Association which formed the all-county tournaments the student athletes enjoy today. He also served the Olympic Athletic Conference as the treasurer for eight years.
After retiring from coaching, he became an IHSAA official in track and field working his way up the ranks and officiated in the State Final in 2009. John was very proud of this accomplishment, since he participated in the state finals as a student athlete, coached numerous athletes in the state meet, and then was a starter for the state meets as a track official.
After retirement from public education, he and wife, Polly, founded McCord Driver Education, Inc. which he served as President and CEO. The Driving Center is the leader in driver education in Anderson and Madison and surrounding counties. The Driving Center also has offices in Marion serving Grant County and in Huntington and Wabash, Indiana. He was a member of the Commercial Driving Schools of Indiana and was also active in Indiana Driver Education Association and National Driver Education Association. In addition, John was a member of the Anderson/Madison County Chamber of Commerce.
John was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Anderson where he served as an usher chairman for several years. He enjoyed spending time with his family, playing golf, and working in his yard.
John and his wife, Polly, were married October 27, 1991. In addition to Polly, John is survived by his mother, Helen McCord, Anderson, and sister, Joyce M. Jones, Indianapolis; surviving children include Charles K. (Brooke) McCord, Fishers; Jennifer (Steve) Herman, Fishers; Sarah Graham, Anderson; Benjamin (Nicole) Graham, Anderson; Peter (Amanda) Graham, Noblesville, and Mary (David) Smith, Anderson. John also has a special, like a sister, cousin, Jody (Ken Nowakowski) Norris, Daleville.
John's beloved grandchildren are: Emma McCord, Evan McCord, Tate McCord, Will McCord, Whit McCord, Elise Herman and Annie Herman of Fishers; Grayson Graham, Layla Graham of Anderson, Ryker Smith, Lynden Smith, of Anderson and Ellory Rose Graham of Noblesville.
John was preceded in death by his father, Charles E. McCord, and grandson, Max McCord. John is irreplaceable and will be sadly missed by his wife, family and friends. John was and will always be the best.
Memorial contributions in honor of John may be made to Hopewell Center in Anderson or St. Jude
Children's Hospital in lieu of flowers.
Visitation will be on Friday, December 14, 2012 at Rozelle-Johnson Funeral Service from 2:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. A celebration of John's life will be on Saturday, December 15, 2012 at John's church, First United Methodist Church in Anderson at 2:00 P.M.
Post online condolences at www.rozelle-johnson.com.