University of Lynchburg

John M. Gazzola Jr. '51 was a teacher, communicator, and citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 1996, the Lynchburg Sports Hall of Fame issued him a special citation for his work with The Homestead and the Bath County resort's professional golf tournament success, largely due to his efforts as the facility's public relations director.

In addition to his promotion of the sport of golf, Gazzola taught and coached girls' basketball in Bath County, and he later served for years on his home county's school board and was a tireless advocate for athletics and other extracurricular activities. He was a veteran of World War II and the Battle of the Bulge and earned a Bronze Star for his "valiant duty."

While at Lynchburg, Gazzola was editor of The Critograph.

He passed away in 2005 and was celebrated with a resolution from the Virginia legislature shortly after.