South Bend Central High School Coach, 1931 – 40
John Wilmore was a native of Ridgeville, Indiana, near Muncie. He played basketball and baseball at the high school level, the school’s only sports. He won monograms in basketball and tennis at Indiana State Normal College (now Ball State University), before graduating in 1929. John Wilmore coached South Bend Central swimmers from 1931 until 1940. His central squads, who practiced in a 50-foot pool, won six team titles. Over the course of his career, John worked with 26 individual state champions. Coach Wilmore also worked with the track and cross country teams. He served as a high school math teacher at South Bend Central Until 1971 when he retired fro the profession. Mr. Wilmore passed away in 1976 but left two children, seven grandchildren, and fourteen grandchildren.