Dr. John J. Binder, 93, U.S. Army Veteran

He was born May 23, 1931 in New York City to John Leo & Melinda Binder (nee Miles). As a child, John lived in Norwich, New York where his father owned a hardware store. During his father’s service during World War II, he lived with his mother and other relatives in New York City, Louisville, Kentucky, Macon, Georgia, Barnesboro, Pennsylvania and Kelly Field, Texas.

John was a 1949 graduate of Barnesboro High School in Barnesboro, Pennsylvania. He served with the US Army in Korea from 1953-1954 as a cannoneer with Battery A 160th Field Artillery Battalion 45th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. He attended the US Military Academy at West Point, New York with the class of 1955.

John was a 1957 graduate of Duquense University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in Secondary Education. In 1958, he received an MA in Educational Counseling from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. He received a PhD in Administration of Higher Education at Kent State University in 1972.

In 1958, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army Reserve at Fort Riley, Kansas through Senior ROTC, University of Notre Dame. He served in the Army Reserve for 30 years. He commanded the 693rd Maintenance Battalion in Ravenna, Ohio from 1981-1982 and commanded the 2nd Psychological Operations Group in Cleveland, Ohio from 1984-1987. He was a longtime US Military Academy admissions participant for the 13th & 5th congressional districts of Ohio. He retired as a Colonel and was awarded the Legion of Merit.

John began his teaching careet at Panama Central School in New York as an English and Social Studies teacher and was Director of Guidance for three years. He coached varsity track from 1960-1963 where his teams won country and district titles. He was a Guidance Counselor at Lorain High School from 1964-1965 and joined Kent State University in 1964 as Academic Advisor at the Elyria Center. He moved to the main campus of Kent State in 1972.

At Kent State, he served as University Ombudsman for Students, and Associate Dean of Student Affairs. In 1996, he was named Emeritus Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. He taught courses in Psychology and American Military History and was appointed Adjunct Assistant professor of History. He was a Military History Fellow at West Point in 1990 and was a respected military historian.

John was a member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association since 1964 He spent 15 years as an OHSAA track and field and cross country official and a NCAA track and field and cross country official. He retired from officiating in 2015. He previously officiated 37 years of football for a total of 52 years of officiating. John was a longtime member of the Ohio Track & Field and Cross Country Association.

John had a lifetime passion for long-distance running. He ran high school track at Barnesboro, Pennsylvania and in 1949 was a member of and undefeated plebe cross country team for West Point Academy in 1951. He was varsity head track and field coach at Panama Central High School in Panama, New York from 1960-1963. In four years of coaching, his team won three Chautauqua County championships and three district championships. He was a member of three road-running clubs: Lorain County Road Runners, Cleveland West Road Runners and Springbok track club. He was a longtime participant in Jack Wilhelm’s 10K Turkey Trot at LCCC.

He worked for 25 years as an admissions field representative for the United States Military Academy. He also retired from Kent State University as an Emeritus Dean and Emeritus Student Ombudsman. John is also a retired Colonel for the United States Army and served in Korea.

He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years Lois Binder (nee Bohoric), daughters: Amy Binder of New Albany, Indiana and Anne Naugle of Vermilion; sons: John Binder (Rose) of Amherst, Colonel Martin Binder (Gaile) of Fairfax, Virginia and Harpers Ferry, West Virginia and David Binder of Golden, Colorado; grandchildren Daniel, Katherine and Kelly. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Private family funeral services were held at the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway, Lorain with the Rev. Kenneth Katricak, OSB presiding. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Lorain.

Online condolences can be made at www.gluvnashimohromada.com.