John "Johnny" Markas Jr.

John “Johnny” Markas, Jr. was born on August 10, 1940, in Morganton, NC, to Ruth Ann Harmon Markas and John Markas. He died September 1, 2024, surrounded by family, and in the arms and heart of his beloved wife Brenda Ann Markas after a brilliantly executed valiant, courageous life.

John was a joyous and avid athlete every day of his life. He honored his body by running, walking, lifting, and competing through every walk of life up to the date he departed this earth. Sports were the fabric of his life from being a young man to being an incredible athlete in gymnastics, baseball, football, boxing, track and field, and basketball. Where setting state records in North Carolina in the 800 yard dash, in 1958, while running for Morganton High School in Morganton, NC. Approaching graduation from Morganton numerous university and schools offered him scholarships but after much prayer he selected Duke University where he received a full Football scholarship after being red-shirted his Freshman year, he was a member and starting left guard from 1959-1962. A highlight of his Duke Football career was winning the 1961 Cotton Bowl. In 1962, he was elected by his teammates to be their captain for the 1962-63 team, assisting in leading them to the ACC Championship for 1962 and 1963. That year John was also elected President of the Student Body where he implemented the “honor system” that is still in place today. While at Duke, he was selected to play in the Gator Bowl game but due to the Cuban Missile Crisis he and his team mates voted to complete their educations since many of them were ROTC members. During this Cuban Missile Crisis John was playing football against Notre Dame and hours later was delivered by aircraft carrier after being called to duty by President John F. Kennedy, to train with an elite STRAC “special forces” group in Fort Benning since he had served in the Army since the age of 15.

John was awarded the prestigious Robert E. Lee award during his Duke Graduation in 1963 along with being Honored by United States of America Congressional House of Representatives as “Outstanding Young Man” on the floor of the House of Representatives which is in the Congressional Record on September 26, 1962 by Honorable Basil L. Whitener. His other Recognitions while at Duke were:

Duke All-Time Team Captain of ACC Undefeated Champions 1962 Season. Co-Founder of Fellowship of Christian Athletes on Duke Campus. Vice-President of Duke Chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Football 1960-1963 Duke All-Time Letterman. 1962 Football All-America. Williamson All-America. Greensboro Daily News All-State. Member of 1961 Cotton Bowl Football Champions. President of the Men’s Student Governing Association (MSGA), Selected/Tapped Red Friar and Old Trinity Club, 1963 Winner of Prestigious Robert E. Lee Award. 1962 Micah Harris Trinity Teammate Award, Blue Devils football player who displays “the traits of a true team mate, character, unselfishness, compassion and Pride.” Who’s Who among students in American Universities and Colleges 1961, 1962 and 1963. 1963 NFL Invitee St. Louis Cardinals.

John’s love of Duke never faded throughout his life. He was an Iron Duke Member, helped build the Yoh Football Center with his donation, and support the initiation of Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Duke University. During his senior year, John was drafted by the NFL, but was given the opportunity to pursue his Master’s education at the University of Oklahoma in Geology and coach with Legendary Coach Bud Wilkinson and Bill Battle, past Vice-President and AD/Assistant to President at Alabama. An avid Iron Duke, he maintained close relationships and a special bond with his teammates and other athletes for the rest of his life. This humble man would never allow for any display or recognition of himself while alive.

This talented executive and geologist/geophysicist built numerous “World Class Services Groups” inside of IBM for instrumentation and seismic processing finding one of the largest oil reservoirs ever found with

IBM’s team of scientists and super computing technology. After 32 years of a “legendary” career at IBM, for 20+ years he was owner of numerous high technology, laboratory, and services companies that linked the human genome to occupational exposures and worked to quantify chemical, physical, or biological agents that could impact Occupational Workers throughout the United States. John was selected to be an elite member of Sigma Xi for over 60+ years.

Most importantly was his love of God. He was a faithful servant helping raise funds as a Church Elder where he assisted in building churches in communities that he was placed within during his executive career. John humbly walked into every room with an infectious smile where he in his heart loved Duke, Oklahoma University, good music, family, farming, fishing, football, and any kind of challenge and adventure. This incredibly passionate man loved his family, friends, and strangers. He always let people stand in their own accordance without any judgement and God’s pure love radiating from his eyes. He and his wife “Brenda Ann” called each other their “OAO”, One and Only, which is truly how they lived their lives for one another from the day they met. This man was fun, curious, brilliant, intelligent and strong. He loved truly and purely, with no strings attached, no expectations. He accepted the changes in his life and body the last few years with amazing grace and good humor.

John’s love for his family was constant. He lost his father in 1949, John Mitchell Markas, his mother Ruth Ann in 1987, his sisters Mary in 1984, and Patricia Anne Markas in 2023. John is survived by his beloved wife Brenda Ann Tolson-Markas, two son’s John Markas III (Linda) of Wilmington, NC, and Lantz Tolson (Jenna) of McPherson, KS all of whom he cherished and loved.

A Memorial and Celebration of John's life will be held at 10:00 AM Eastern Time on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at Clay-Barnette, 303 Phifer Road, Kings Mountain, NC 28086. A graveside service will follow with a meal at Italian Garden. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to The Iron Dukes Varsity Club at 116 Cameron Indoor Stadium, Box 90542, Durham, NC 27708, or their website www.gifts.duke.edu/irondukes . Online condolences may be sent to www.claybarnette.com .

Should you wish to view a celebration of John Mitchell Markas, Jr. life please view the following link on your computer and enjoy John’s life, favorite scriptures, and timing of film honoring the Holy Trinity.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kdyVOt5kzcT0RHkvdWtPLLoMsKjj7k0s/view