John Ross Tribute

There is no person on earth who has thrown at these Games longer than John Ross: he first threw in Santa Rosa in 1964. John was throwing at Santa Rosa before Santa Rosa became known as the U S Championships. During these 35 years John helped to set the standard for craftsmanship, technique and even the rules of throwing through his thoughtful suggestions and personal enthusiasm.

John was the first winner of the U S Caber Championship, held in 1979, and held many other of our track records over the years, including many in the Masters class, some of which held for years, until they were slowly surpassed by men of much greater physical strength. John has been and will always be a Master’s master.

John first threw with the Master in 1993, when he was already 56 years-old and came to throw at the last Games to be held in his home town of Santa Rosa.

In April of 2000, John was throwing the weight over the bar at Woodland, California, when he collapsed on the field. At that point John literally died while performing his sport of some 30 years. Fortunately we live in a high tech as well as caring world, and thanks to quick-acting paramedics and the help of all of his fellow athletes, who forgot their competition and joined hands in a silent prayer and tribute to their fallen hero, John is still with us today. The strength and unity is such in this rather arcane sport that all competition ceased for the day, the books were closed, equipment packed and everyone went home to await word on John’s condition. John awoke a couple of days later, surrounded by family, completely unaware of the whole event.

At 2001 Games here at Pleasanton John and his wife, Evie, were back on the field with John’s truck full of our throwing implements, as it has been since the seventies.

But John did not throw. Even with a mechanical implant to assure that his great heart would not stop again, John has been proscribed from such physical exertion by his physicians. But John was there, on the field, talking to the competitors, encouraging them by his words and his presence.

In his 1999 tribute to our Games, David Webster writes of John:

“No resume of the Caledonian Club Heavies would be complete without mention of John Ross of Santa Rosa, who played a unique role in setting the standards in North America. He was the top American at the British Week Games (which brought the first Scottish throwers to the Bay Area.)

Although at only 200lbs - John was a lightweight amongst the pachyderms - he gave a very good account of himself. John, the

So easy! John Ross handily clears 13 feet with the 56# weight at the 110th Caledonian Club Games in Santa Rosa

Amateur Champion, helped make new equipment for the extended program of heavy events. Over the years John, and his wife Evie, have extended fine hospitality to visiting throwers, at times catering for all the athletes and arranging picnics after the games. Over 30 years after competing in his first games at Santa Rosa, this quiet modest athlete is still competing, winning and setting records in the Masters Class. John Ross provides a wonderful role model for athletes the world over.”