John Lannan

John Lannan is a great example of what it means to get involved. John has either helped people with, or has donated towards, many funds within the Martin County Community Foundation. These include: Spirit of St. Martin’s Fund, Whitfield Men’s Educational Club, Arvin Whitfield Cemetery Fund, and St. John’s Cemetery Fund. In fact, he is a co-founder of the Spirit of St. Martin’s Church Fund and Whitfield Men’s Educational Fund. John, along with his siblings, also founded the Joseph and Mary Lannan Family Fund in honor of their parents.

John is originally from Daviess County where he attended Montgomery High School. He furthered both his basketball career and education at Vincennes University all while working on his farm.  He later received his master’s degree in an integrated math and physics educational program. He taught in Indianapolis before returning to his hometown of Loogootee. He worked at the Naval Ammunition Depot Crane (now NSA Crane) for the Engineering Department while his wife, Mary Jo, decided to go back to school to become a registered nurse. 

Mr. Lannan now has four children and four grandchildren. With the little free time he has, he finds himself volunteering with the American Cancer Society, Martin County Sewer, and putting his efforts toward an anti-bullying/bullying prevention program.

When asked about his motivation to give back so much to the community, John said, “The future of the community is in the hands of the younger people and they will impact so many people in many ways.” John grew up with thirteen brothers and sisters, but the community was always able to give him the things he needed such as an education, Christmas gifts, and charities to volunteer at. John is a prime example of giving forth all you can to better our community.

John attended the meetings that led up to the development of the Martin County Community Foundation in 1999 to help keep current with needs in the community. He saw the potential our community foundation has on the impact within the community. We are forever grateful John saw the potential in us before we saw it in ourselves.