COMMUNITY

Local mentor honored for decades of service to Salem youth

The story of how John “Cheeseburger” Witherspoon got his nickname elicited shocked gasps and muttered reverence throughout the Salem Convention Center on Monday. 

As the legend goes, the now 72 year old Witherspoon was in high school when – on a now infamous visit to Bob’s Hamburgers on Capitol Street – he consumed 25 cheeseburgers, seven large french fries, two large milkshakes and a coke in an hour to a cheering crowd.

Henceforth, he was known as Cheeseburger to the community, a nickname that has stuck with him for over 40 years of coaching and mentorship through youth sports programs, the Boys & Girls Club and Four Corners Elementary School. 

The Chamber estimated that Witherspoon has mentored and coached over 38,000 students during his lifetime.

Witherspoon received the Spirit of Salem Award on Monday. The award recognizes community impact, and is awarded by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce board during each Forum Speaker Series Luncheon, eight times a year.

Before the event, Witherspoon told Salem Reporter he doesn’t care about awards. He volunteers for the sake of the kids, many of whom come from difficult home situations.

His goals as a coach are clear.

“Hopefully, changing some of them’s point of view on crap, and keep them out of trouble,” he said. “Let them find out that you can play sports, you can have fun, you don’t have to be the best player.”

Witherspoon is humble, speaks quickly and is not a fan of the spotlight despite having the ability to capture the attention and fondness of the room. He’s quick to make a joke, and shares credit whenever possible. 

Witherspoon has coached baseball, football and basketball with the Boys & Girls Club for decades. He said that his players know to try their hardest, but that wins or losses don’t matter. Either way, there’s likely a trip to Dairy Queen after the final whistle.

Food is a common theme in Witherspoon’s service. Throughout the 1990s, Witherspoon brought three cheeseburgers, a large fry and soda to every player in area football, basketball, softball and baseball teams that qualified for playoffs in Salem and Keizer. 

He is also known for placing orders of over 600 ice cream bars for events at the Boys & Girls Club.

Neil Johnson worked alongside him at the Boys & Girls Club for over a decade. The two first met over 40 years ago, when Johnson was 12 years old.

“I had some friends that needed a fatherly figure in their lives, (they had) single moms, and he’d pay their sports fees, get their cleats, take them to and from practice, buy them meals,” he said at the event. “Just generous.”

Witherspoon has also been a mentor at Four Corners Elementary School in Salem for over 40 years, where he reads to the children, “bringing out an ear to ear smile from youth whose best part of the day is spent out of the home, not in it,” said Wendy Veliz, Chamber president, during the ceremony.

The southeast Salem school has one of the highest poverty rates in Salem and is among the most persistently challenged schools in the district.

Principal Hugo Valdez Jimenez was quoted by Veliz during the event, where he said the school is lucky to have Witherspoon.

“‘His dedication and passion for supporting the students and school community are outstanding. Students and staff value all the hard work that John invests into our school to help our students develop academic and social skills,’” he said. 

“The purpose of the Spirit of Salem Award is to identify those who may never shine a spotlight on themselves,” Tom Hoffert, chamber chief executive officer, told Salem Reporter. “John’s touched the lives of over 38,000 students and athletes in Salem. It’s time his story is told.”

At the start of his speech, Witherspoon drew laughs from the audience by accepting the award by saying he doesn’t care much for awards.

“I just try to do what I can do,” he said. “We get too much adultism in youth sports … you just gotta roll with the punches, do what you can, and remember no one came to watch you coach or officiate. They came to watch the kids play, put their little butts out there, let them get hurt, have a good time.”

Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-704-0355.

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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.