John Henry Jackson facts for kids
John Henry Jackson (born in 1938, died on December 11, 2018) was a talented American-Canadian football player. After his time on the field, he became a successful owner of restaurants.
Early Life and Football Career
John Henry Jackson was born in Columbus, Georgia. He loved playing football from a young age. He played NCAA football for the Indiana Hoosiers team in college.
In 1960, John Henry joined the Toronto Argonauts, a team in the Canadian Football League. He played one game for them. In 1961, he was released from the team. However, he decided to stay in Canada. He had started dating Anna Fitzsimmons, a woman from Toronto. They got married in 1962.
After leaving the Argonauts, John Henry worked in advertising sales. He worked for a newspaper called the Toronto Telegram. In 1965, he became a Canadian citizen. He also continued his football career. He played as a quarterback for the Quebec Rifles in the Continental Football League. This team later became known as the Toronto Rifles.
A Legal Challenge
In October 1965, John Henry faced a legal issue. He was arrested because of a misunderstanding about his past duties in the United States. This happened during a Rifles game against the Wheeling Ironmen. The owner of the Wheeling team helped him by paying his bail. John Henry quickly returned to the stadium for the end of the game. Even though he missed most of it, his team gave him the winning game ball. The Rifles team, the league, and the Toronto Telegram all supported him. The legal issues were resolved in 1966.
In August 1966, John Henry left the Rifles after a disagreement with his coach, Leo Cahill. He briefly returned to the team in 1967. A few months later, he was released again.
Restaurant Business
After his football career, John Henry started a new path. He became a partner in a restaurant called The Underground Railroad. This restaurant opened in Toronto in 1969. It served delicious soul food. His partners were Archie Alleyne, Dave Mann, and Howard Matthews.
John Henry became a leader in the restaurant industry. In 1980, he was elected president of the Ontario Restaurant and Foodservices Association. In 1981, he bought out his partners. This made him the only owner of The Underground Railroad restaurant.
In 1988, the restaurant had to move from its longtime spot on King Street. It reopened in 1989 at a new location. This new spot was near Church and Front Streets. The restaurant eventually closed for good in 1990. After that, John Henry managed another restaurant called Meteor. Later, famous hockey player Wayne Gretzky became a partner. The restaurant was then renamed Wayne Gretzky's sports bar. John Henry continued to manage it.
Later Life
After retiring from the restaurant business, John Henry Jackson continued to serve his community. For many years, he worked as a justice of the peace. He worked in both Toronto and Brampton.
John Henry Jackson passed away on December 11, 2018.
