Alumnus of the Year
2007
John York
Graduated in 1967
[view bio]
As owner of the San Francisco 49ers, the DeBartolo Corporation’s largest asset, John York is the fundamental source providing oversight between the company’s home office in Youngstown, OH and the 49ers in San Francisco. He has been instrumental with the rebuilding of the 49ers and putting a senior management team in place to run the operations of the franchise on a day-to-day basis.
York, along with his wife, Denise DeBartolo York, bring long and distinguished careers in sports and business to their roles as owners of the San Francisco 49ers, creating an organization that adheres to their core family values of success and community leadership. “The first goal of the 49ers is to win football games, but there’s more to our team than just winning on the field. My family and I are passionate about the 49ers leading Bay Area sports franchises in our service to the community and to being great partners in our business relations.” Denise and John’s dedication to the game of football extends to the top levels of the NFL, where John is the Chairman of the NFL’s International Committee and also sits on the League’s Audit and Business Ventures Committees, while Denise is an active member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Committee.
The York’s passion for football is an outgrowth of devoting much of their careers to professional sports. Denise, an accomplished business leader, served for several seasons as the president of the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team, one of only a few female executives in the NHL. She was instrumental in revitalizing a dormant franchise into a championship team and the first woman to have her name engraved on Lord Stanley’s Cup.
John, a successful entrepreneur, spent years as Senior Vice President/Director of Racing Operations for the DeBartolo Corporation, instituting programs designed to increase fan participation and enhance the overall value of the racing portfolio. He developed the inaugural DeBartolo Racing Challenge in 1997, tying together the Derbies at Thistledown in Cleveland, OH, Remington Park in Oklahoma City, OK and Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, LA. York’s interest in racing started with his dad, Jack York, who took him, beginning at age 9, to Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs to learn statistics and betting strategy. While leading the direction of the DeBartolo racing portfolio and after four years of hard work and determination to pass legislation, John was successful at obtaining slots at Louisiana Downs, bringing the facility to profitability never realized in the past. Upon York’s involvement with the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL, which prohibits involvement with slots and gambling, he sold Louisiana Downs to Harrah’s.
With a multi-faceted business background, John has a proven record for developing turnkey operations. In 1982 he founded DeYor Laboratories in Youngstown, Ohio. Beginning with him and three others and with their expertise in hematopathology, immunology and state of the art drug testing, York molded a 500-person operation with facilities in three states. With revenues between $25 and $30 million annually, his business was considered among the largest in the Midwest. DeYor Laboratories was sold to Corning, Inc. in 1993.
Born in Muskogee, OK, John grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, where his passion for sports began at an early age. “Ironically, my best memories of growing up are lying on my living floor in Little Rock and watching the 49ers on TV,” York said. “Little Rock didn’t have an NFL team, so I got to choose who “my” team was, and I kind of fell in love with the 49ers, with John Brodie throwing passes to R.C. Owens.”
Attending Little Rock Catholic High School, John participated in many activities including basketball, local baseball leagues as well as many extra curricular activities. At the friendly envy of fellow students, John and his brother Tom boasted the title “top seller”, selling the most Little Rock Catholic High School raffle tickets five years in a row.
York was awarded a scholarship upon graduation from Little Rock Catholic High School, and attended Notre Dame University, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1971. After receiving his doctorate from Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University in 1975, John underwent seven years of post-doctorate training at such prominent universities as Loyola of Chicago and Vanderbilt. An accomplished writer and lecturer, York has numerous presentations to his credit.
Still an active alumnus of Little Rock Catholic High School, the University of Notre Dame and Loyola, Stritch School of Medicine, John continues to donate time and financial support to better educational facilities and curriculum at both of his former schools.
Noted for his generous support of youth activities and education, York and his wife made the largest contribution to date to Youngstown State University women’s athletic program. In Boarmdan, OH, he spearheaded “Fields of Dreams” a youth baseball complex, and was awarded an Honorary Lifetime Member title in June of 2006. In May of 2005, John was presented with the Distinguished American Award from the Northeastern Ohio Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, Inc.
Closest to their hearts and under the leadership of John and Denise, the 49ers community program and 49ers Foundation has grown to a record $1.3 million raised and donated in 2007 to Bay Area non-profit organizations and causes. In March of 2005 Denise and John were honored with the Outstanding Corporate Philanthropy Award at the Catholic Charities/Catholic Youth Organization’s Loaves & Fishes Dinner for their remarkable contributions to the San Francisco community.
Though Denise and John have an extensive involvement in their vast portfolio of business and community ventures, they define themselves as parents first. They have four children: Jed, Tony and twins Jenna and Mara.
York, along with his wife, Denise DeBartolo York, bring long and distinguished careers in sports and business to their roles as owners of the San Francisco 49ers, creating an organization that adheres to their core family values of success and community leadership. “The first goal of the 49ers is to win football games, but there’s more to our team than just winning on the field. My family and I are passionate about the 49ers leading Bay Area sports franchises in our service to the community and to being great partners in our business relations.” Denise and John’s dedication to the game of football extends to the top levels of the NFL, where John is the Chairman of the NFL’s International Committee and also sits on the League’s Audit and Business Ventures Committees, while Denise is an active member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Committee.
The York’s passion for football is an outgrowth of devoting much of their careers to professional sports. Denise, an accomplished business leader, served for several seasons as the president of the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team, one of only a few female executives in the NHL. She was instrumental in revitalizing a dormant franchise into a championship team and the first woman to have her name engraved on Lord Stanley’s Cup.
John, a successful entrepreneur, spent years as Senior Vice President/Director of Racing Operations for the DeBartolo Corporation, instituting programs designed to increase fan participation and enhance the overall value of the racing portfolio. He developed the inaugural DeBartolo Racing Challenge in 1997, tying together the Derbies at Thistledown in Cleveland, OH, Remington Park in Oklahoma City, OK and Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, LA. York’s interest in racing started with his dad, Jack York, who took him, beginning at age 9, to Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs to learn statistics and betting strategy. While leading the direction of the DeBartolo racing portfolio and after four years of hard work and determination to pass legislation, John was successful at obtaining slots at Louisiana Downs, bringing the facility to profitability never realized in the past. Upon York’s involvement with the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL, which prohibits involvement with slots and gambling, he sold Louisiana Downs to Harrah’s.
With a multi-faceted business background, John has a proven record for developing turnkey operations. In 1982 he founded DeYor Laboratories in Youngstown, Ohio. Beginning with him and three others and with their expertise in hematopathology, immunology and state of the art drug testing, York molded a 500-person operation with facilities in three states. With revenues between $25 and $30 million annually, his business was considered among the largest in the Midwest. DeYor Laboratories was sold to Corning, Inc. in 1993.
Born in Muskogee, OK, John grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, where his passion for sports began at an early age. “Ironically, my best memories of growing up are lying on my living floor in Little Rock and watching the 49ers on TV,” York said. “Little Rock didn’t have an NFL team, so I got to choose who “my” team was, and I kind of fell in love with the 49ers, with John Brodie throwing passes to R.C. Owens.”
Attending Little Rock Catholic High School, John participated in many activities including basketball, local baseball leagues as well as many extra curricular activities. At the friendly envy of fellow students, John and his brother Tom boasted the title “top seller”, selling the most Little Rock Catholic High School raffle tickets five years in a row.
York was awarded a scholarship upon graduation from Little Rock Catholic High School, and attended Notre Dame University, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1971. After receiving his doctorate from Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University in 1975, John underwent seven years of post-doctorate training at such prominent universities as Loyola of Chicago and Vanderbilt. An accomplished writer and lecturer, York has numerous presentations to his credit.
Still an active alumnus of Little Rock Catholic High School, the University of Notre Dame and Loyola, Stritch School of Medicine, John continues to donate time and financial support to better educational facilities and curriculum at both of his former schools.
Noted for his generous support of youth activities and education, York and his wife made the largest contribution to date to Youngstown State University women’s athletic program. In Boarmdan, OH, he spearheaded “Fields of Dreams” a youth baseball complex, and was awarded an Honorary Lifetime Member title in June of 2006. In May of 2005, John was presented with the Distinguished American Award from the Northeastern Ohio Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, Inc.
Closest to their hearts and under the leadership of John and Denise, the 49ers community program and 49ers Foundation has grown to a record $1.3 million raised and donated in 2007 to Bay Area non-profit organizations and causes. In March of 2005 Denise and John were honored with the Outstanding Corporate Philanthropy Award at the Catholic Charities/Catholic Youth Organization’s Loaves & Fishes Dinner for their remarkable contributions to the San Francisco community.
Though Denise and John have an extensive involvement in their vast portfolio of business and community ventures, they define themselves as parents first. They have four children: Jed, Tony and twins Jenna and Mara.
2006
J.Walter Keller, Jr.
Graduated in 1940
[view bio]
No Bio Available
2005
Steve Hoffmann
Graduated in 1968
[view bio]
No Bio Available
2004
Ed Pruss
Graduated in 1948
[view bio]
No Bio Available
2003
Father Raymond Rossi
Graduated in 1950
[view bio]
No Bio Available
2002
Steve Wells
Graduated in 1973
[view bio]
No Bio Available
2001
Larry Wilson
Graduated in 1953
[view bio]
No Bio Available
2000
G. Larry Jegley
Graduated in 1970
[view bio]
No Bio Available
1999
Father Lawrence Frederick
Graduated in 1955
[view bio]
No Bio Available
1998
Jim Dailey
Graduated in 1960
[view bio]
No Bio Available
1997
Reggie Rogers
Graduated in 1977
[view bio]
No Bio Available
1996
Mike Moran
Graduated in 1961
[view bio]
No Bio Available