WEATHERFORD, JOHN "JACK" WILLIAM, was born in Decatur, Illinois, on 5 January 1924, son of Earl and Mae (Fields) Weatherford.

He graduated from Millikin University (BA), University of New Mexico (MA), and University of Michigan (MALS). He also studied at Marquette, Southampton (UK), and Miami University. He entered the US Army in 1943, studying Russian language at CCNY, serving in France and Belgium. After the end of hostilities in Europe he was sent to Okinawa. The Japanese surrendered while he was en route, and he was sent from Okinawa to Korea, whence he returned to the USA in 1946.

Mr. Weatherford was employed as the manuscripts librarian by the Ohio Historical Society in 1954. He moved in 1957 to Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) first as assistant to the director and later as associate director of libraries and university librarian. In February 1970 he became director of libraries at Central Michigan University. He sought to encourage creative staff members, who conducted numerous reforms such as ending the practice of requiring borrowers to share their social security numbers with all other borrowers, converting to Library of Congress from Dewey Decimal systems, joining electronic networks, and leading the nation in providing library service to external degree students.

From 1976 to 1979 he was additionally assistant provost for faculty contractual relations and grievance office, and in the capacity was chief management negotiator during bargaining with the CMU Faculty Association. He retired on 1 July 1988 and remained in Mt. Pleasant, helping Artreach as a picture docent until 2005.
In 1983 Mr. Weatherford married Gretchen Oberst of Breckenridge, Michigan. Her loving care over more than 30 years helped preserve his health and happiness from the siege of nature. They have travelled widely in John's retirement with several trips to England, which he loved.

John is survived by his wife, Gretchen (Oberst) Weatherford; adult children from his first marriage, Laura Weatherford and Alice Weatherford of Austin, TX and John F. Weatherford of Dripping Springs, TX. ; grandsons, Adrian Vandenbout of Columbus, OH and Jackson Weatherford of Austin TX.

A Memorial Service for John will be held at Clark Family Funeral Chapel on Saturday, June 9, at 2 p.m. with The Reverend Nancy Casey Fulton officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Clarke Historical Library. Envelopes will be available at the funeral chapel.