John married fellow Mac alumnus,Peggy Jackson in 1963 and had four children. He graduated from Texas Tech on a football scholarship, then worked in the food manufacturing industry until the 1990s when he retired to raise cattle and other animals in Dawson Texas with his second wife, Pam.
John died in early 2007 after a lengthy decline due to high-blood pressure, diabetes, and sleep apnea. He was able to see and get to know all four of his grandchildren. Information provided by Peggy (Jackson) Avent
How well I remember John. I, too, went to Tech and had the pleasure of watching him play football. The last time I saw him was shopping for a Christmas tree in Lubbock. He introduced me to his wife, Peggy, and I introduced him to my wife Roz.
I was the smallest guy on the team...only making the team because I was a senior! Can you imagine, facing John Avent and George Davis across the line at the same time? My assignment was to go in between them in drills. No way did that happen. It was like flicking a mosquito off their big arms. Too bad, I didn't have west nile to bite back!
John was ferocious on the field, but a gentle giant off the field. He always made me feel good, although he couldn't see me at the other end of the bench!
I, too, am a better person for knowing John Avent.
Like Bill Slaughter, I have a football memory of Large John- the assignment was to take turns tackling your opponent,
and the coach threw the ball to me and I tried to run over John- not too bad as sometimes we practice what we were taught and I took the tackle pretty well. And then the coach threw the ball to John and I TRIED to tackle him. It was like being hit by a Peterbilt Truck doing about 80 MPH- he FLATTENED me! Solid- the man was solid muscle.
Not so years later at a Reunion Pic-Nic- John wasn't in good shape like at Mac- he still had that thoughtful kindness that I'd liked in school- when he talked to you, he talked TO you- gave you a sense of caring. BUT THE WAY HE ATE unerved me- he was eating LARGE Helpings of All The Wrong Stuff. And he ate with an Enthusiasm that made my personal "uh-oh" lights come on- I can see how he developed health problems. And working in the Food Industry to boot.
My memories of John are of the sparkle in his eye, and his KINDNESS. He was a VERY Kind and Caring man!
Played football with John. He was one of the 6 or 7 in our senior group that got D1 scholorships to play at the next level. Ran into him again in '65 when I transfered to Texas Tech. John was not only athletically gifted, but very intelligent. My prayers go out to his family.
Doing two-on-one drills in a sticker patch against John Avent and George Davis was a truth learning experience ! John was a hard-nosed guy on the field and the contrary off the field, a true sportsman and a gentle person. When Joe Bill Fox and the other coaches got rid of the class of '62 things got better so it was nicde to see Mac do well from a safe distance . My sincere feeling of sadness are extended to John's family and to all of us who were team mates and are missing another friend.
Jim, You reminded me of the two-on-one drills. I did the same thing against George and John. Being an end (and 163# wet), I (and other backs and ends) was required to roll, then catch the ball thrown to us and run between John and George. They hit me like a ton of bricks and I separated my shoulder. Rolling in pain on the ground, coach said "Get off the ground, Downing. You're gonna get hit harder than that in a game". I thought to myself as I lay there "I sure as hell hope not!". I missed the next two games.
I remember John, George, Eddie & Billy Woodlee, Glen and I - and I don't remember who else - went to Poncho's Mexican restaurant one day. They had 'All you could eat' days - just raise the little flag and they would bring more food. We had dishes packed 2 feet high. When we finally left, they had to close the restaurant. John and George could really pack it away. Also Glen could eay twice his weight!
Peggy Jackson (Avent)
John married fellow Mac alumnus,Peggy Jackson in 1963 and had four children. He graduated from Texas Tech on a football scholarship, then worked in the food manufacturing industry until the 1990s when he retired to raise cattle and other animals in Dawson Texas with his second wife, Pam.John died in early 2007 after a lengthy decline due to high-blood pressure, diabetes, and sleep apnea. He was able to see and get to know all four of his grandchildren.
Information provided by Peggy (Jackson) Avent
Kenneth Seiler
How well I remember John. I, too, went to Tech and had the pleasure of watching him play football. The last time I saw him was shopping for a Christmas tree in Lubbock. He introduced me to his wife, Peggy, and I introduced him to my wife Roz.
Bill Slaughter
I was the smallest guy on the team...only making the team because I was a senior! Can you imagine, facing John Avent and George Davis across the line at the same time? My assignment was to go in between them in drills. No way did that happen. It was like flicking a mosquito off their big arms. Too bad, I didn't have west nile to bite back!
John was ferocious on the field, but a gentle giant off the field. He always made me feel good, although he couldn't see me at the other end of the bench!
I, too, am a better person for knowing John Avent.
William G. Carter
Like Bill Slaughter, I have a football memory of Large John- the assignment was to take turns tackling your opponent,
and the coach threw the ball to me and I tried to run over John- not too bad as sometimes we practice what we were taught and I took the tackle pretty well. And then the coach threw the ball to John and I TRIED to tackle him. It was like being hit by a Peterbilt Truck doing about 80 MPH- he FLATTENED me! Solid- the man was solid muscle.
Not so years later at a Reunion Pic-Nic- John wasn't in good shape like at Mac- he still had that thoughtful kindness that I'd liked in school- when he talked to you, he talked TO you- gave you a sense of caring. BUT THE WAY HE ATE unerved me- he was eating LARGE Helpings of All The Wrong Stuff. And he ate with an Enthusiasm that made my personal "uh-oh" lights come on- I can see how he developed health problems. And working in the Food Industry to boot.
My memories of John are of the sparkle in his eye, and his KINDNESS. He was a VERY Kind and Caring man!
William Carter
Jack Mc Ilhenny (Class Of 1962)
Played football with John. He was one of the 6 or 7 in our senior group that got D1 scholorships to play at the next level. Ran into him again in '65 when I transfered to Texas Tech. John was not only athletically gifted, but very intelligent. My prayers go out to his family.
Jim Heidelberg (Class Of 62)
Doing two-on-one drills in a sticker patch against John Avent and George Davis was a truth learning experience ! John was a hard-nosed guy on the field and the contrary off the field, a true sportsman and a gentle person. When Joe Bill Fox and the other coaches got rid of the class of '62 things got better so it was nicde to see Mac do well from a safe distance . My sincere feeling of sadness are extended to John's family and to all of us who were team mates and are missing another friend.
Jim Heidelberg
Class of '62
Jack D. Downing (Class Of 1962)
Jim, You reminded me of the two-on-one drills. I did the same thing against George and John. Being an end (and 163# wet), I (and other backs and ends) was required to roll, then catch the ball thrown to us and run between John and George. They hit me like a ton of bricks and I separated my shoulder. Rolling in pain on the ground, coach said "Get off the ground, Downing. You're gonna get hit harder than that in a game". I thought to myself as I lay there "I sure as hell hope not!". I missed the next two games.
I remember John, George, Eddie & Billy Woodlee, Glen and I - and I don't remember who else - went to Poncho's Mexican restaurant one day. They had 'All you could eat' days - just raise the little flag and they would bring more food. We had dishes packed 2 feet high. When we finally left, they had to close the restaurant. John and George could really pack it away. Also Glen could eay twice his weight!