John Powell, an original inductee into the American River College Hall of Fame, and a member of the 1967 ARC track team, passed away August 19, 2022 in Las Vegas.

John was a graduate of Mira Loma HS and after ARC went on to San Jose State. He was a 7-time US discus champion, 3-time US Olympian – finishing 4^th in Munich in 1972, and getting a bronze in Montreal and Los Angeles in 1976 and 1984 respectively.

He would have made a 4^th team in 1980 had the US not boycotted. John set the world record in the discus in 1975 at 226'8". In 1984 he threw 233'9", still the second longest throw in American history. John was a member of several Hall of Fames, including the California Community College Cross Country and Track Coaches Association (pictured above).