HALL OF
Fame
JOHN DONNELL
John Donnell was born and grew up in Findlay, Ohio, headquarters of Marathon Oil Co. After receiving a B.S. degree from Case Tech (now Case Western University) he started a 40 year career with Marathon which culminated with 20 years as a Board Member. John also served as Board Chairman of First National Bank of Findlay for 30 years as well as Trustee of his Alma Mater for the same amount of time. Graduating from backyard croquet in Findlay, John picked up the six wicket game under the teaching of Ted Prentis when he wintered in Palm Beach.
FULL BIO
John Donnell was born and grew up in Findlay, Ohio, headquarters of Marathon Oil Co. After receiving a B.S. degree from Case Tech (now Case Western University) he started a 40 year career with Marathon which culminated with 20 years as a Board Member. John also served as Board Chairman of First National Bank of Findlay for 30 years as well as Trustee of his Alma Mater for the same amount of time. Graduating from backyard croquet in Findlay, John picked up the six wicket game under the teaching of Ted Prentis when he wintered in Palm Beach. Back in Ohio John built a croquet court at his home in Perrysburg, as well as a club of twenty interested and socially compatible couples, and became the first Ohio club affiliated with the USCA.
After moving from Perrysburg to Newport, Rhode Island, John became deeply involved in Newport Croquet Club activities and later, was introduced to the Croquet Foundation of America by his good friend, Barton Gubelmann. A member of Croquet Foundation of America's Board of Directors and Second Vice President for many years now John has continued to be deeply involved with the activities of croquet clubs both in Palm Beach and in Newport. Highly popular with his fellow CFA Board Members, John's generous support to the game of croquet has been an inspiration for all.
John Donnell was inducted into the United States Croquet Hall of Fame in 1996.