John Clawson has something that only one other Naperville Central alumnus- 2013 Hall of Fame inductee Candace Parker- does: an Olympic gold medal. This incredible achievement is a shining testament to a lifetime of hard work, focus, and wholehearted commitment to team. A humble Clawson recognizes and appreciates the significance of the feat, yet is quick to point to the rich experiences he had at Naperville Community High School as an essential training ground for Olympic glory. In fact, Clawson was recognized in 2000 as an outstanding alumnus and inducted into Naperville Central’s Alumni Hall of Fame, an honor reflective of his contributions as both a student and as an alumnus.Clawson’s high school memories are varied and vivid, ranging from driving to school in a friend’s ’53 Ford convertible to taking drama teacher Jim Miller’s ’57 T-Bird convertible to senior prom to playing in front of jam-packed gyms for all home and away basketball games. He credits the passion and support of his coaches and teachers, along with the loyalty and enthusiasm of his classmates and fans, with the success of his high school years, both on the basketball court and off. As student body Vice President and a member of the National Honor Society, Clawson found every way he could to invest in and give back to his school community. Inspired by both the explicit and implicit example set by mentors like quarterbacks coach, Phil Dawson and head basketball coach Bob Grove, Clawson lived the advice he shares with today’s athletes: “Pursue your passion in life and persevere until you take it as far as you can.”After graduating from Naperville Community, Clawson traded red and white for the maize and gold of the University of Michigan, where he was the team’s second leading scorer in his senior season, averaging 16 points per game. He and Wolverine teammate, basketball legend Cazzie Russell, helped the school win three Big Ten Conference titles and reach the Final Four twice. Clawson, though fiercely proud of these accomplishments, was even more gratified by his placement on the All-Big Ten Academic First Team, as it illustrated his equally intense commitment to work beyond basketball. He graduated with a degree in business administration and joined the Army, playing for several seasons on their teams and securing, along the way, three AAU championships. Spurred by his successes, he avidly chased Olympic dreams, representing the United States at the 1967 Pan American Games and the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, earning gold medals in both events. After the Olympics, Clawson played one year of professional basketball with the Oakland Oaks of the American Basketball Association, winning a league championship in 1969.Competitive in life after retiring from professional play, Clawson worked at Merill Lynch and eventually started his own construction company. His work reflects his values, as commitment to the construction, perseverance and celebration of “home” has fueled all of his life achievements at every stage.Clawson’s strongest belief is that “people in your life are more important than your achievements.” While Olympic gold sparkles, it is the prize of his family that Clawson values most. He married classmate Sue Bawden of the Class of 1963, and together they have two children and seven grandchildren. The Clawson legacy lies more in them than in the record books that proclaim his name and achievements, a reminder to all that the value of family is worth more than the price of gold.