John Newton Etchart was born and raised in Glasgow, Montana, the second of five children in a well-known and respected sheep and cattle ranching family. He attended Carroll College from 1963 to 1967, playing football, basketball, and baseball for the Fighting Saints.
Following his graduation from Carroll, John enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving as an infantry officer in the Vietnam War. Upon his return, he met his future wife Sarah, and the two were married in 1975. They welcomed their daughter, Jeannie, in 1984.
John’s professional career included numerous leadership positions in both government and private enterprise. He also served on numerous nonprofit and community boards, including as a trustee of his beloved Carroll College.
John’s passion for Carroll College and for its athletic programs burned like a beacon through all of his life. Affectionately known as “The Owner” by student-athletes and coaches, John supported the Fighting Saints for 50 years with his time, his talents and his treasure.
The John Newton Etchart “Hall of Excellence” honors a man who believed that service, education and athletic competition could and would foster excellence in young people. John’s life was a powerful example of the leadership and virtue that intercollegiate athletics can infuse into the souls and hearts of young men and women.