John DeRagon

John DeRagon was the first Hartford High track and field athlete to reach the 50-foot mark in the shot put.

On March 18, 1949, during an indoor meet against Manchester, John put the shot exactly 50 feet. In an outdoor dual meet with Norwich, he managed to send the shot 54 feet 6 inches, his best performance in that event.  He won the CIAC indoor and outdoor shot put in both 1948 and 1949 and won the New England shot put in 1949.

John also threw the discus, winning the CIAC title in that event in 1949. He once threw the discus 140 feet, his best effort in that event. John won the Greater Hartford shot put and discus in 1948 and 1949, and set a meet record in shot put of 52 feet 11 inches. He scored 103 points his senior year and helped lead the HPHS team to two consecutive CIAC Track And Field Championships.

John worked as a flight controller for many years.

He died on January 29, 1996.