John Grace (2000) - Hall of Fame

John Grace

Induction:
2000
Class:
1948

John Grace lettered on the football and baseball teams at Mississippi State from 1945-48.

Grace played under Coaches C.R. “Dudy Noble” and R.P. “Doc” Patty, starting in left field for the 1948 Diamond Dawgs – the first team in program history to win the SEC Championship. He was named All-SEC with a .375 batting average.

He was a Marine Corps veteran in World War II who saw combat at several islands, including the first wave at Okinawa on Easter morning.

Grace coached and taught at East Central Junior College for five years, serving as athletic director and head coach of the football and baseball teams. He was president of the M Club in 1976 and an SEC football official for 22 years, calling three national championship games.