John William Selby

John William Selby, known to thousands as “Farmer John”, of Centreville, MD died on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD. He was 88. Born December 30, 1916 in Delmar, DE, he was the son of the late Irving and Susie Della Cline Selby. After graduating from Delmar High School, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington College, his Master of Education degree from the University of Delaware and did post-graduate work at the University of Maryland. He was included in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities and was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership society. After graduation from Washington College, he was employed by the Glen L. Martin aircraft company at Middle River, MD where he worked for several years as a supervisor in Planning and Scheduling. His wife, the former Margaret Kathryn Wolcott, whom he married in 1943, died December 24, 2000. In 1947 he was employed by the Queen Anne’s County Board of Education and remained in the school system until his retirement on January 1, 1983. He was a teacher and counselor at Centreville High School and a teacher at Queen Anne’s County High School. During this span of 36 years he started the first College Night Program, the first Career Day Program and initiated the National Honor Society at Queen Anne’s County High School where he funded the History Scholarship. Mr. Selby was a member of the Maryland State Teacher’s Association, a member of the Queen Anne’s County retired Teacher’s Association and the National Education Association. Mr. Selby’s successful high school coaching career included consecutive State Championships in soccer and many undefeated baseball seasons. He was inducted into the Baseball Athletic Hall of Fame at Washington College, is a member of the Maryland State Association of Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, and a member of the Eastern Shore Baseball Hall of Fame. He served as a baseball scout for the Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Athletics. He had the first player drafted from the State of Maryland in the first major league draft in 1965, and had a player drafted on the fifth round in 1969. Several of his players played in the minor leagues. During the days of the Great Depression, he played baseball for championship teams in Princess Anne, Milford, Wilmington and Malone, N.Y. in the Northern League. Mr. Selby was active in the formation of athletic and recreational programs. He worked with others in establishing Little Leagues for baseball and basketball. He and Dr. Arthur Blaney laid the foundation for what is now Queen Anne’s County Parks and Recreation. He managed the Centreville Giants to the Tri-County League Championships in 1948 and in 1950 to the Bi-State League Championships. He was President of the Bi-State Baseball League, President of the Central Shore Basketball League and served as Commissioner of Amateur Baseball for the Eastern Shore. Mr. Selby was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Centreville and the Queen Anne’s County Historical Society. Among the recognitions that he received were the FFA Star Chapter Award, Centreville Lions Outstanding Citizen Award in 1983, PTSA Life Membership Award, Centreville High School Alumni Award in 1987 and Farmer of the Year Award in 1999. From 1955 to 1982 he operated a produce business on Route 50 near Queenstown known as Farmer John’s. Upon retirement from teaching in 1983 he moved his business to Route 8 near the airport where he continued until 2005. He always featured new varieties of vegetables and was widely known for selling sweet corn by the basket. Mr. Selby is survived by a daughter, Margaret Susan Selby of Centreville; two sisters, Mary S. Mitchell of Del Mar, MD and Rosalie S. Whelpton of Winter Haven, FL; and his companion, Terry L. Mauk of Centreville. He was predeceased by a brother, Lt. Col. Lewis S. Selby who died October 17, 2003. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 2005 at 2:00 PM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Liberty St., Centreville, MD. Burial will be at Chesterfield Cemetery, Centreville, MD. Memorial donations may be made to the John W. Selby History Scholarship Fund, c/o Queen Anne’s County High School, 125 Ruthsburg Rd., Centreville, MD 21617. Arrangements are by Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A., Easton, MD.