John Rothmann has had a tremendous career with enormous accomplishments. He started his illustrious achievements at a young age by being appointed the San Francisco mayor for the day, followed by becoming the student body president at George Washington High School (GWHS).
John has been a successful teacher, author, and politician; an expert on our vice presidents, running political campaigns, and community activism. With his long and successful radio talk show host career and recent stimulating podcasts, his influence and followers grow daily.
Given his numerous accomplishments and being a proud GWHS Eagle, I know John is also proud for accomplishing an incredible feat that no doubt will ever be surpassed: being the George Washington High School Alumni Association (GWHSAA) president for 50 years.
Through his leadership, we have worked together on major successful projects from protecting the JROTC program, the high school’s 75th Anniversary Gala, protecting the Victor Arnautoff New Deal murals, and defending the historic 44 San Francisco Unified School District school names in the political and legal arenas. John not only used his golden microphone and hosted many radio talk shows to bring attention to these issues, he also produced radio talk shows bringing attention to the three controversial Board of Education Commissioners recalled in 2022.
During John’s tenure, the alumni association submitted an accepted and successful application created by expert and passionate volunteers for the school to be listed on the Department of Interior Historical American Building Survey List. As of February 2020, the entire George Washington High School campus, which includes the six New Deal artists and response muralist Dewey Crumpler, has been acknowledged and honored as a historical site.
John oversaw the growth of donations and endowment funds from just a few thousand dollars in the mid-1970s to currently over $4 million. As a result, over the last five decades, numerous projects have been funded that have supported students, faculty, staff, and the GWHS campus.
After 50 years of exemplary volunteerism and service, John will retire from his presidency this year. On May 28, at our annual Hall of Merit dinner, in addition to honoring those inductees, we will and honor and roast John for his 50 years of leadership and accomplishments.
I have been on the alumni association’s executive board for almost two decades. It’s been a true pleasure to work with John in supporting the needs of the students, faculty, staff, and the GWHS campus. I’m honored to call John a close colleague, a proud fellow Eagle, and, most important, a dear friend.