John A. Whetstone

John Whetstone is the son of the late Julia and Grover Whetstone. He was raised in Newark, New Jersey.

While in grammar school, John played little and junior league baseball the famed Newark Schools Stadium in the North Ward. He had the opportunity to witness local legendary high school players from then powerhouse Newark Central High School.

Following graduation from grammar school, John moved to Elizabeth where he attended Marquis de Lafayette junior high and Thomas Jefferson high school. While at “Jeff” nicknamed Home of Champions, John participated in basketball, cross country and outdoor track. He received Varsity Letters in all three sports. He played junior varsity basketball for the late Robert Tisdale and was a member of the cross country team coached by Cordell Reinhardt. While on the varsity track team, John ran the half-mile and high jump under Coaches Gilbert F Grant and Harold Fisher. However, it was on the hardwood that he made his mark.

During his senior years playing under varsity basketball Coach Ronald Kelly’s Minutemen, John a forward, averaged 11.2 points a game. In 1968 the basketball team participated in the prestigious Hillside Christmas Tournament. Following the completion of the tournament, John was selected to the tournament All Star Team.

Also during his senior year, The Minutemen won the 33rd annual Union County Conference tournament basketball championship ending a fourteen season drought. The team also claimed the Northern Division title in the Greater Jersey Conference. The team advanced to the Northern Jersey sectional II Group 4 title match against defending champ Perth Amboy High school.

Individually, John received All-union county Honorable Mention and All Greater Jersey Conference Second Team Honors. Finally, John was the first recipient of the James Nash Memorial Award in basketball.

After graduation, John attended Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. He started as a freshman playing guard for Coach Les Goodwin’s team which captured the Maritime Atlantic Coast Conference title and went on to play in the Canadian National Tournament.

Upon leaving school, John was employed for many years for American Cyanamid Company in Linden, New Jersey.

John is currently employed as a Detective for the City of Elizabeth. He is a graduate of the John Stamler Police academy. John also served as a DARE Officer where he impacted the lives of nearly five thousand elementary students in the Elizabeth Public and Parochial Schools.

In his spare time, John enjoys playing golf, bowling and officiating at High School Basketball games.

John is of the AF Memorial Mixed Bowling League at Jersey lanes in Linden, New Jersey. He is a sanctioned member of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC). John has attained numerous 700 scratch series in various tournaments. John is a member of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO) and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).

John is married to Shelia D. Ellington Esq. they have two daughters: Shelby Elizabeth and Sidney Grace.

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