Javelina Hall of Fame
John Rivera won Lone Star Conference gold medals in track and field and was the league’s cross country gold medalist three times while with the Javelinas. He was inducted into the Javelina Hall of Fame in 1992.
He took the conference 5000-meter run title in 1980, won the 5000-meter and 10000-meter championships in 1983 and was the conference titleist in the 10000 run in 1984.
Rivera’s seven gold medals tie him with Dick Watson for the most won by a Texas A&I athlete. He still holds the school records in the 5000 (14:37.3) and 10000 (30:39.5).
He was named the most valuable athlete at Texas A&I in 1984.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1984, Rivera was an accounts payable lead specialist for HEB from 1985-87 and was a real estate account for HEB in 19887-88.
He became a graduate assistant track coach at the University of Texas-Pan American in 1989 and received his master’s degree in health and kinesiology in 1991.
Rivera, who competed in high school at San Antonio Burbank, is currently a United Way volunteer in San Antonio.
