John Robert Posey Jr. ’75

John Robert Posey Jr. ’75 passed away on February 9. Born on November 17, 1953, in Evanston, Illinois, he attended St. Mary’s Catholic elementary school and Evanston High School before receiving an academic scholarship to Dartmouth. After graduation John returned to Chicago, where he worked at McDonald’s corporate headquarters, which paved the path to the City of Chicago office of special events. As director of corporate marketing and neighborhood festivals he produced numerous major events for the city. In 1990 John was hired as the first paid executive director of the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce. Following his tenure there, John served as coeditor of Kente Cloth, the first published anthology of Texas African American writers and visual artists. From there John’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish USN, an electronic sports media company. He also created and owned the nationally syndicated Urban Sports News Black College Football Poll, a platform that elevated the voices and achievements of historically Black colleges and universities, leaving an indelible mark on sports journalism. Throughout his career John was a prolific writer, photographer, and producer, with more than 2,500 written works, 3,500 published photo credits, and 4,600 sports events around the country covered as a reporter and photographer. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Margo; daughter Mercedes; and brother Larry.