Columbus, OH — Former U.S. Trotting Association Director of Publicity John Pawlak, 71, died Friday (Dec. 27).

John loved Bowling Green his whole life and I was introduced to his “private world” when I met him. His sister, Carol was an earlier graduate of Bowling Green when John was young. He loved every sport that was out there and was very knowledgeable in all of them. Through his growing up years, his mother and sister were fans of sports and always accompanied John. Although he never played sports himself, he was always involved in reporting and announcing all through college. We traveled to games with the football team and girls’ basketball teams. When we had to give up our season tickets to football games in 2015, I don’t think the team played as well as when John was there to cheer them on.

The players’ parents and relatives were used to seeing us at all the functions, no matter where, and always asked us which player was ours. We just told them all of the players were adopted by us. During John’s rehab stay, a friend went to the Bowling Green football team and told them about John. They all signed a football jersey and sent it to him to wish him a speedy recovery.

He was predeceased by his parents, John J. and Helen Miller Pawlak, first wife Mary Arvanitis Pawlak, brother-in-law Kenny Korbel; daughter-in-law Sandy Arvanitis; and many dear aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is survived by his loving wife Kristine Keller-Pawlak; his sister Carol Pawlak Korbel of Royalton, Ohio; and four loving children from his previous marriage, Jim Arvanitis of California; Venetia (Tia) Meyer(Gerry) of Curtice, Ohio; Georgina(Gina) Garwood(Jack) of Toledo, Ohio; and George Arvanitis(Lisa) of Toledo, Ohio. He has numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. John had three loving stepchildren with Kristine. Stacey Maurer (Tom) of Galloway. Ohio; Meagen Johnson (Marc) of Galloway, Ohio; and Mindy Bragg (Cliff Braskett) of Ashville, Ohio as well as eight loving grandchildren.

John worked for and retired from the United States Trotting Association (USTA) after a career that spanned 35 years. During his career, Pawlak won the North American Harness Publicist’s Golden Pen Award in 1993, the Harness Horsemen International’s Clyde Hirt Media Award in 2010, was voted a lifetime member of the International Trotting Association in 2011 as one of only 20 individuals to receive that honor in the 30-year history of that group, and was inducted into the Communicators Hall of Fame in 2014.

Former USTA President Phil Langley has fond memories of his time working together with John. “No matter what the circumstances, John was enthusiastic about life and especially harness racing,” said Langley. We spent many years together at this USTA and his writings and announcing always gave us a positive feeling about our sport. He was at his best at World Trotting Conferences, no matter what the country and especially covering the World Driving Championship. He was so well thought of by the people from other countries they made him a life member. The last few years have been tough for John but whenever I talked to him, he was upbeat. “Go in peace, John!” An Ohio native, John attended Bowling Green State University where he majored in marketing while also studying broadcasting and journalism.

After graduating from Bowling Green State University in 1971, Mr. Pawlak went to work for WTOL-TV, the CBS affiliate television station in Toledo, Ohio, as a reporter and photographer. In 1973. He was promoted to sports anchor on the weekends and a sports reporter during the week but was also involved in harness racing by doing freelance jobs and voice-over work for Raceway Park. In 1978, when there were wholesale changes at his TV station, Mr. Pawlak was hired by Raceway Park and did some odd jobs until he took over the announcer’s job in March 1979. During his time as an announcer, he also assisted the track’s publicist with promotions, advertising, and public relations. After about a year, he was named the publicist at Raceway Park and eventually traded in his announcer’s microphone to focus on his publicity and marketing duties.

Mr. Pawlak joined the USTA in 1985 as the Director of Publicity. For his work at the USTA, he was well known for both his writing and editing as well as his broadcasting. He was responsible for compiling and editing The Trotting & Pacing Guide, the definitive annual factbook on North American harness racing and the historical USTA Directors book. With his television background, Mr. Pawlak was the face of the USTA and led the organization into the age of online video and served as the host of the USTA popular “Eye on Harness Racing” series. Mr. Pawlak was ever-present at many harness racing events, director meetings, district meetings and county fairs. But he also was known world-wide for his work coordinating the biennial World Driving Championship and the World Trotting Conference.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 4) at Newcomer Funeral Home, 3047 East Dublin-Granville Rd., Columbus, OH 43231 with the funeral at 4 p.m. officiated by Rev. Michael Gardner followed by cremation.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Ohio Health Hospice, 800 McConnell Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43214.