John M. Slobodnik, Class of 1959

JOHN M. SLOBODNIK, Class of 1959, arrived at Boys Town on March 20, 1949, from Omaha, Nebraska, with his brothers Francis, Joseph and Robert. It was apparent early on that the 9-year-old Slobodnik was destined for athletic greatness at Boys Town. Honing his athlete skills while in elementary school, Slobodnik entered high school destined to star on the gridiron, basketball court and the baseball  diamond. He excelled in leadership and was Mayor, Councilman, Commissioner, Class President, Vice President and Secretary during his high school years in Boys Town’s program of self-government. He pursued an academic course of study in high school.

Slobodnik earned varsity honors all four years of high school in basketball, playing on the back-to-back state championship teams in 1956 and 1957. He earned three varsity letters in football, two in baseball and earned minor letters in football, baseball, basketball and track. He was named to the All-Star Baseball Team for Nebraska-Iowa by the Omaha World-Herald. He pitched a shut-out in the final game of the championship round to give Boys Town the State Championship in 1959. He was Vice President of the Lettermen’s “B” Club in his senior year.

Upon graduation from high school, Slobodnik joined the United States Marine Corps and served his country with tours of duty in Thailand and Vietnam early in the 1960s. Upon his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps in 1964, he returned to Omaha and entered a career in the construction trades. He spent a number of years in heavy construction and ended his work years in the plumbing industry. 

Slobodnik is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and served several terms as Commander of his local VFW Post. His involvement with the VFW included a long stint as manager of his VFW Post club facility.  

Slobodnik and his late wife, Mary Ann, were married for nearly 30 years. He is retired and living in Omaha.  He is a Lifetime Member of the Boys Town National Alumni Association®.