JOHN R. WORRELL, JR., 1LT, USAF

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
John Worrell, Jr. '57

Date of birth: January 1, 1935

Date of death: May 22, 1961

Age: 26

Lucky Bag

From the 1957 Lucky Bag:

1957 Worrell, J LB.jpg

JOHN ROBERT WORRELL, JR.

Danville, Illinois

Although a Hoosier by birth. Johnny spent most of his life in Danville, Illinois, where he was a standout in basketball. He continued to pound the hardwoods for the Navy team and also played lacrosse in the spring. John never took any girl seriously, so he must have broken the hearts of many of them. His motto, "'57 or bust," carried him through his four dark ages at Navy. One of Usnay's biggest promoters of "locker hockey," Johnny was always leading the pack when they took off for a weekend. Although he took plebe year to heart, he was always to be found raring to "have a ball."

1957 Worrell, J LB.jpg

JOHN ROBERT WORRELL, JR.

Danville, Illinois

Although a Hoosier by birth. Johnny spent most of his life in Danville, Illinois, where he was a standout in basketball. He continued to pound the hardwoods for the Navy team and also played lacrosse in the spring. John never took any girl seriously, so he must have broken the hearts of many of them. His motto, "'57 or bust," carried him through his four dark ages at Navy. One of Usnay's biggest promoters of "locker hockey," Johnny was always leading the pack when they took off for a weekend. Although he took plebe year to heart, he was always to be found raring to "have a ball."

Loss

John was killed on May 22, 1961 when he bailed out of the T-37 he was aboard as an instructor pilot. He was flying from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. His student pilot survived.

Obituary

From Find A Grave:

Johnny was born in Indiana, but grew up in Danville, Illinois, where he was a standout in basketball. Entering the U.S. Naval Academy in 1953, he played on both the basketball and lacrosse teams. An outgoing guy – Johnny livened up any gathering. Upon graduation in 1957 he chose a career in the U.S. Air Force and won his pilot’s wings shortly thereafter. While on active duty he lost his life in an aircraft accident in 1961.

Remembrances

From Find A Grave:

John, my friend at USNA, lost his life in an aircraft accident while serving his country as an officer in the United States Air Force. Rest in peace, John, til we meet again when I, too, have crossed the bar. Frank Parker, June 29, 2016

Related Articles

Alfred Senior '57, Redmond Jensen '57, and Gardner Brewer '57 were also in 8th Company.


Class of 1957

John is one of 38 members of the Class of 1957 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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