John Ferguson was born in Idaho in 1938 and moved with his family to San Diego in 1949. In 1956, John was in the second graduating class of Lincoln High School where he played football, basketball and baseball. He attended BYU where he met his wife, Linda. John and Linda were married in 1958, they have three children, Rick, Daren and Melinda, six grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.
John earned his Teaching Credential and Master’s Degree at San Diego State University. He began his teaching career in San Diego City Schools in 1964 at Memorial Junior High School. John began his coaching career in 1965 when he transferred to Crawford High School.
John continued his coaching career at Patrick Henry High School where he coached the Girls’ Basketball and Softball. His Basketball team was the first to play in the California State Tournament. John’s Basketball teams won several League Championships and a SDCIF runner-up. John was the Coach of the first San Diego Girls’ All Star Basketball team. His Softball teams qualified for SDCIF play-offs in each of the sixteen years of his Softball Coaching tenure, winning two SDCIF Softball Championships, one runner-up title a number of League Championships.
John was inducted into the San Diego Hall of Champions as a Coaching Legend, in 2012.
In 1966, John was encouraged by a fellow coach to join the San Diego County Football Officials Association (SDCFOA), where he officiated High School, Junior College and College Football. John served as the SDCFOA President and was a long time member of the SDCFOA Board of Directors. He was a member of the SDCFOA first experimental Crew System. John was an exceptional, highly respected, Referee and Crew Chief.
John was a SDCFOA instructor, following the retirement of the venerable George A. Schutte became the SDCFOA Instructional Chairman.
John retired from Officiating after working the SDCIF Championship Game in 2000. In recognition of his outstanding contributions of leadership, guidance, service, on field integrity, and excellence in Football Officiating, John was the recipient of the 2008 George A. Schutte Memorial Award, the most prestigious honor of the SDCFOA.
Frank Wilhelm, Basketball & Softball