John Rees was a letterman for four years on both the Millersville baseball and basketball teams from 1935 to 1938.
On the baseball diamond, he was selected as team captain in his senior year ('38). He pitched a 17-inning gem only to lose, 1-0, to rival East Stroudsburg.
On the basketball court, John was a starter on back-to-back State Teacher's College championship teams of 1936-37 (13-2 record) and 1937-38 (12-3) coached by John Pucillo.
Rees was a member of the Varsity Club, Phi Sigma Pi honorary fraternity, and the Officers Men's Commuting Association.
During World War II, Rees served in the U.S. Air Force and advanced to the rank of major, and he also was a squadron executive officer.
After his discharge from military service, John returned to Lancaster and was employed by Armstrong Cork Sales for six years. In 1954, he began a 40-year professional career as a stockbroker. He was manager and vice-president of Shearson Lehman Brothers (now Smith Barney) when he retired in 1993.
Active in civic affairs, Rees served on the Lancaster City Council from 1956 to 1960 and from 1964 to 1965; he also was appointed city finance director by former mayor Kendig Bare.
Rees also served his collegiate alma mater, Millersville, with distinction. He was a member of various committees, was elected vice-president for six years on the Board of Trustees, and also was named investment advisor for the Millersville Foundation Board. He earned a master's of science degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1940.
In 1987, Rees received the Distinguished Service Award from the Millersville University Alumni Association.
