John M. McGill passed away on January 26, 2010 at 9am at Briarfield of the Ridge in Mineral Ridge.
John was born June 17, 1920 in Brookfield Ohio to Orland Edward & Mary Virginia Marshall McGill. John served in the US Navy during WWII from 1942 to 1946 on a carrier aircraft service unit, servicing catapults. So he’s been slinging it for years!
He worked for Johns Manville in Milwaukee after being discharged from the Navy then for Williamson Heating & Cooling before becoming involved in sports car racing. At that point he and Marvin Drucker formed Steel Cities International Raceway, later to become Nelson Ledges Road Course. He held the title of General Manager from 1962 to 2004. In 1970, along with Grover Griggs, he was awarded for the innovation of the tire wall which is now used at many race tracks around the world.
Although he could be a bit of a curmudgeon, he had a heart of gold. He would “take in strays” so to speak, earning the nickname Father Johns’ Home for Wayward Boys! Anyone who was out of work or needed a place to stay, John would take them under his wing and they would live on track in the trailer and work for the track.
John was a 50 year member of the Masonic Lodge and a member of the Loyal Order of Moose.
Preceding him in death are his brothers, Joseph, Ed, Frank and Charlie. His parents Orland and Mary Virginia., his first wife Mavis “Pat”, and Martha his second wife, whom he married in 1975.
Survivors include his daughters Linda (Ken Heller) McGill and Kerrie (Bryan) Bartzi, three sons, Darryl (Joyce Lynette) Lane, Kevin Lane and Jon Scott (Holly) Lane and four Grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements will be at Stewart-Kyle Funeral Home,
407 West Liberty Street Hubbard, OH 44425-1730 (330) 534-1955
