The teaching and coaching career of John “Pop” Schmidt covers approximately four decades with 31 of those years at Central High School as a teacher of physics, chemistry, biology, math, German, Head Football Coach (1921-1927), and Head Track Coach (1921-1945), winning state titles in 1922, 1924, and 1945, while being state runner-up in1923 and 1925. In his honor, Central established several awards, including the J.G. “Pop” Schmidt Memorial Trophy to each year’s outstanding track athlete. Pop Schmidt’s concern for his students was recognized by many, including CHS Principal, J. Arthur Nelson who said, “He was genuinely interested in the welfare and progress of his students and was ever willing to give a helping hand to those who needed it. He was a man of kindly counsel, and he stood firmly by that which is right. John Schmidt is a great part of that tradition which is Central….,” a former athlete who stated that “New blood in the coaching line might bring more winning teams, but it cannot bring a team that has any better ideals of sportsmanship than the teams under the regime of Coach Schmidt,” and another former player who stated, “Papa’s nickname said it all. He was a father to all kids.”
John passed away in 1949 at the age of 61.