About John Tartan
The late Mr. John Tartan was a native Nevadan whose career as a Teacher, Coach, Counselor, Administrator seemed destined at an early age.
He spent 28 years in Education in the State of Nevada at White Pine, Basic, Rancho, Valley and Las Vegas High School.
John Tartan was born November 6, 1924 in Ruth, Nevada. Ruth was a small mining town outside of Ely Nevada. His parents were immigrants from Yugoslavia. His mother came to Ruth at the age of 16 to her brother in 1898. His father came to Ruth also to a family member at the age of 15 in 1897. They grew up 50 miles apart in Yugoslavia but never knew each other. In 1925 the family moved to McGill Nevada where John attended McGill Grade School and later White Pine High School in Ely. While attending White Pine he played four years of football and basketball and lettered in both. During this time there was no baseball at White Pine High School, so John played American Legion baseball.
John graduated in 1943, in the midst of World War II. John enlisted in the Army-Air Corps and served as a 2nd Lieutenant.
After the War, John won a spot in the “Ogden Reds” baseball team, a farm team for the Cincinnati Reds baseball team. That experience helped secure a baseball scholarship to Utah State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1952.
John was able to attend Utah State due to two friends from McGill who were attending Utah State University. They recommended to the Head Baseball Coach to watch John play. The coach traveled to Elko and signed John up for a Full-Ride to play the catcher position for 4 years. His nickname is “Buck” because he could run like a buck deer. While attending the Utah State University on summer break in 1949 John coached the Ely American Legion Team. They won State and traveled to Stockton California for the regional playoffs.
John was hired by White Pine High School to teach immediately after graduation from Utah State and worked two months before he was recalled into the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. During the recall time period for the Korean War John coached and played for the Walker AFB in Roswell New Mexico. He was then shipped to Mendenhall England where he played the catcher position for the Base Baseball Team. He was discharged from the armed services in July 1953.
One month later, he accepted a position at Basic High School in Henderson. In the classroom, John taught General Science and Biology.
On the field, he was Head Baseball Coach, and Assistant Football Coach. Under John’s direction Basic won two State Championships in Baseball. Basic then went on to win the Tri-State championship comprised of teams from Needles, Blythe, Kingman, Boulder City and Basic. This win lead to competing in the C.I.F. tournament. The C.I.F. is comprised of all Southern California Conference teams. This was a First for a Nevada school. In 1955 John was named the “Helms Athletic Coach of the Year”. John also introduced the slogan “Home of the Basic Wolves” on the school scoreboard. In addition to the scoreboard, John was the first coach to dress in team uniform, along with the bat-boy (son Charles). This started a precedent at all the High Schools in the Las Vegas valley.
While at Basic in December 1953 construction was started on a football field. John promoted and solicited the construction of the baseball field. From the contractor of the football field, cost free work was solicited for the grading and cutting away of the field. From the Titanium Plant the pipes and fencing materials. The coaches and baseball players dug holes, poured the footing and hung the fencing. Then Basic High School had a baseball field. No grass, the coaches and players would rake the field everyday before it could be used. The area was so “desert” that the opponents were warned to watch out for “Snakes” in the outfield.
John left Basic in 1957 to pursue a Master’s Degree at Arizona State in Tempe, Arizona. John returned to Las Vegas and Rancho High School, after receiving his Master’s Degree. He started the 1958-1959 school year as a teacher of Health and Social Studies.
Once again, he was named Head Baseball Coach and Assistant Football Coach. John led the Rancho Baseball Teams to Three State Championships in a row: 1958, 1959 and 1960.
While encouraging his young athletes, John continued his own education. This time at UNLV, pursing a Professional counselors endorsement. Soon John moved out of the classroom and into Administration. As a counselor at Rancho, John made it a point to help every student secure a scholarship to further his or her education. He held special meetings to instruct the students on the process and the availability of scholarships. During his years as a counselor at Rancho he handled all the senior class for 12 years. This involved verification of eligibly to graduate, programs, rehearsals, set-up, diplomas, speakers, fitting for caps and gowns and class rings. After the ceremony the exchange of the gowns for “real” diplomas. At Rancho High School John served as Head of Counselors, and eventually as Assistant Principal.
In 1976, John transferred to Valley High School as Assistant Principal.
In 1978, he requested to be transferred to Las Vegas High School. John wished to retire from Las Vegas High School because it was so similar to his own Alma Mater White Pine High School in Ely, Nevada. This request was granted, and John retired from Las Vegas High School in 1980.
John was married to Judy Breeding. They have 3 children, 5 Grandchildren and 2 Great Grandchildren.
He spent 28 years in Education in the State of Nevada at White Pine, Basic, Rancho, Valley and Las Vegas High School.
John Tartan was born November 6, 1924 in Ruth, Nevada. Ruth was a small mining town outside of Ely Nevada. His parents were immigrants from Yugoslavia. His mother came to Ruth at the age of 16 to her brother in 1898. His father came to Ruth also to a family member at the age of 15 in 1897. They grew up 50 miles apart in Yugoslavia but never knew each other. In 1925 the family moved to McGill Nevada where John attended McGill Grade School and later White Pine High School in Ely. While attending White Pine he played four years of football and basketball and lettered in both. During this time there was no baseball at White Pine High School, so John played American Legion baseball.
John graduated in 1943, in the midst of World War II. John enlisted in the Army-Air Corps and served as a 2nd Lieutenant.
After the War, John won a spot in the “Ogden Reds” baseball team, a farm team for the Cincinnati Reds baseball team. That experience helped secure a baseball scholarship to Utah State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1952.
John was able to attend Utah State due to two friends from McGill who were attending Utah State University. They recommended to the Head Baseball Coach to watch John play. The coach traveled to Elko and signed John up for a Full-Ride to play the catcher position for 4 years. His nickname is “Buck” because he could run like a buck deer. While attending the Utah State University on summer break in 1949 John coached the Ely American Legion Team. They won State and traveled to Stockton California for the regional playoffs.
John was hired by White Pine High School to teach immediately after graduation from Utah State and worked two months before he was recalled into the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. During the recall time period for the Korean War John coached and played for the Walker AFB in Roswell New Mexico. He was then shipped to Mendenhall England where he played the catcher position for the Base Baseball Team. He was discharged from the armed services in July 1953.
One month later, he accepted a position at Basic High School in Henderson. In the classroom, John taught General Science and Biology.
On the field, he was Head Baseball Coach, and Assistant Football Coach. Under John’s direction Basic won two State Championships in Baseball. Basic then went on to win the Tri-State championship comprised of teams from Needles, Blythe, Kingman, Boulder City and Basic. This win lead to competing in the C.I.F. tournament. The C.I.F. is comprised of all Southern California Conference teams. This was a First for a Nevada school. In 1955 John was named the “Helms Athletic Coach of the Year”. John also introduced the slogan “Home of the Basic Wolves” on the school scoreboard. In addition to the scoreboard, John was the first coach to dress in team uniform, along with the bat-boy (son Charles). This started a precedent at all the High Schools in the Las Vegas valley.
While at Basic in December 1953 construction was started on a football field. John promoted and solicited the construction of the baseball field. From the contractor of the football field, cost free work was solicited for the grading and cutting away of the field. From the Titanium Plant the pipes and fencing materials. The coaches and baseball players dug holes, poured the footing and hung the fencing. Then Basic High School had a baseball field. No grass, the coaches and players would rake the field everyday before it could be used. The area was so “desert” that the opponents were warned to watch out for “Snakes” in the outfield.
John left Basic in 1957 to pursue a Master’s Degree at Arizona State in Tempe, Arizona. John returned to Las Vegas and Rancho High School, after receiving his Master’s Degree. He started the 1958-1959 school year as a teacher of Health and Social Studies.
Once again, he was named Head Baseball Coach and Assistant Football Coach. John led the Rancho Baseball Teams to Three State Championships in a row: 1958, 1959 and 1960.
While encouraging his young athletes, John continued his own education. This time at UNLV, pursing a Professional counselors endorsement. Soon John moved out of the classroom and into Administration. As a counselor at Rancho, John made it a point to help every student secure a scholarship to further his or her education. He held special meetings to instruct the students on the process and the availability of scholarships. During his years as a counselor at Rancho he handled all the senior class for 12 years. This involved verification of eligibly to graduate, programs, rehearsals, set-up, diplomas, speakers, fitting for caps and gowns and class rings. After the ceremony the exchange of the gowns for “real” diplomas. At Rancho High School John served as Head of Counselors, and eventually as Assistant Principal.
In 1976, John transferred to Valley High School as Assistant Principal.
In 1978, he requested to be transferred to Las Vegas High School. John wished to retire from Las Vegas High School because it was so similar to his own Alma Mater White Pine High School in Ely, Nevada. This request was granted, and John retired from Las Vegas High School in 1980.
John was married to Judy Breeding. They have 3 children, 5 Grandchildren and 2 Great Grandchildren.