Jack Foresman

Jack Foresman is a lifelong resident of rural Cleghorn and a lifelong member of the Mt. Pleasant Church. In high school Jack received varsity letters in every sport offered. His senior year he qualified for the state track meet in the pole vault and the mile run. He received his bachelor’s degree from Wayne State College in Nebraska. Lettered three years in track, captain of the track team and set school and conference records in the two mile run. Jack returned home from two years of military service during the Korean conflict. He then embarked upon three ventures in which he remains active to this day. He married Lillian, began farming and began officiating track meets. Jack has served his community in many ways: ten years on the local school board; eighteen years on the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors; served as an elder, Sunday School Teacher and Superintendent; participated in numerous county government and veteran’s day programs; member of the Cleghorn Centennial Committee; member of the committee that organized the Meriden-Cleghorn Community Library; organized and helped fund a nine hole golf course; and personally spearheaded the organization and fund raising for a new all-weather track at Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn. Jack’s contributions to high School Track & Field are just as impressive. Jack started track meets in virtually every part of northwest Iowa; started several state meets back in the days when they were hosted by high schools located around the state; he has been involved with the prestigious Tomahawk Relays in Cherokee since his day as a high school athlete. The Tomahawk, along with the Holstein Relays, was one of two northwest Iowa meets which at one time attracted the top high school track teams from the entire state of Iowa, but from the entire upper Midwest and was the site of numerous record performances. Jack was awarded the trustworthiness Award from the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Leadership Team. Jack has served as a track official for fifty years in the 2003 season.