John Wynn ‘45
John played defense (left fullback in those days) for the Aces, and was a 3-year starter in ’42, ’43, & ’44. During that time his teams won the Suburban One soccer league title all 3 years, compiling a total record of 35-6-5. In his senior year John was chosen captain of his team, picked for the All-Suburban league 1st team, as well as being named to the All-Scholastic team. Also, in that ’44 season, John, along with his teammates, only allowed 5 goals the entire season (still sharing an LM team record with the ’67 team), including going unscored upon in league play.
After the ’44 season, John played for the American Reserves/Hosiery club team, until he entered Lafayette College in the fall of ’45. At that time, because of World War II, Lafayette had temporarily dropped the men’s soccer program. Undeterred, John asked for a key to the uniform bin, recruited players from around campus, and temporarily reinstated the program for a 4 game season.
After that season John went into the service for a year and a half, during which time Lafayette hired a new soccer coach to keep the program going. When John came back, he was named the co-captain of the team, and in his senior year was chosen to the All-America 2nd team, and awarded one of the first “Hurlbert Awards” at Lafayette.
After college John joined the Germantown Cricket Club team, who dominated the league for years, and who played one year in an international tournament in Bermuda. After 5 years he joined the Merion Cricket Club team, became chairman of soccer, and established an area youth soccer program for boys & girls. In 1968, John started the first junior boy’s club soccer team in Lower Merion, and in 1972 did the same for the girls. He coached youth soccer for 15 years, and was awarded the “Pioneer Award” by the Delco Soccer League. John continued to play in the Cricket Club League until he was 45, and was a big international soccer fan, going to the World Cup in France in 1998. And in the early 60’s, when the US women’s team was in it’s infancy, he saw them play their 1st international match against China at the UGH field in Neshaminy.
Doug Brown '76
Doug was a 3-year starter for Lower Merion from 1973-1975. As a sophmore forward he earned All-League recognition. Doug moved up to midfield as a junior, and, scheduled to be the go to guy in the middle for the Aces, he sustained broken bones in his right foot in the first game of the season. Despite playing hurt the entire season, he still managed good numbers and helped keep LM in every game. As a healthy senior co-captain, he led the Aces to their first winning seasons in several years, and was named 1st team All-Central League. He was also named to the All-District team, and chosen MVP of his Aces team.
Doug won a total of 5 varsity letters while at LM, and, as a senior, he won the Dave Erickson Outstanding Player award as the 3rd baseman for the LM baseball team.
After Lower Merion, Doug was a 4-year varsity starter at center midfield for Moravian College’s men’s soccer team. In a distinguished career, the Moravian team went 38-16-9, was often nationally ranked, and played in the post-season playoffs in 3 of his 4 years. Over his college career he accumulated 30 goals and 15 assists, playing out of the midfield. In both his junior & senior seasons he was chosen 1st-team All-Middle Atlantic Conference, as well as also being named conference MVP both years. As a senior co-captain, Doug was named NCAA Player of the Week during the season, and achieved 1st-team All-America status.
During both his high school & college careers, he served as a coach & referee in the LM recreation youth soccer association, assisted numerous clinics, and coached for the Middle States Soccer Camp at Ursinus College. He was also the associate director for the Bethlehem recreation department’s Soccer-at-Night program for disadvantaged children.
Doug has worked and served for the past 20 years in public school, university, and college dining services, winning numerous achievement awards. He is currently the Senior Regional Director for a nationwide dining service contractor, and lives in Overland Park, Kansas, with his wife Joanne. They have 4 grown children living in various cities in the eastern United States.
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