John Gregory (1995) - Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame

John Gregory

Induction:
1995
Class:
1989

Few people have taken as winding a path to get to Marshall as John Gregory, but it was well worth the wait for the Thundering Herd. The football and baseball star from Lake Worth, Fla., was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981 and spent four years as a pitcher and first baseman in their organization before deciding to try his hand at college football, playing for one season at Southeastern Louisiana University before the school dropped football. So the lefty-throwing quarterback transferred to Marshall and immediately helped the Thundering Herd to its best seasons in many years. Gregory led Marshall in passing in 1986 before having his 1987 season cut short by injury. He bounced back to lead the team in passing in 1988, as Marshall won its first Southern Conference title, and again in 1989 as he passed for more than 300 yards in seven games. When his Marshall career came to a close, Gregory had established new school records in passing yards (7,020), total offense (6.720) and touchdown passes (51). After his circuitous route to get to Marshall, Gregory married Thundering Herd cheerleader Karen Wooten and settled down in this area; their daughter Kaley became a record-setting swimmer at Marshall. He was inducted into the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.