John Simourian excelled as a Crimson athlete from the beginning of his freshman year. In his first year at Harvard, Simourian was a regular halfback with the freshman football team and was captain of the freshman baseball team as well. Becoming a quarterback in his senior season, John led the squad in yards gained on offense, racking up a total of 446 yards. His teammates voted him the Frederick Greeley Crocker Award recognizing him as the most valuable player in 1957. Simourian won the Wendell bat for being the best all-around hitter his junior year. Although he only batted .265, he led the team in home runs, total bases, extra base hits, runs scored, stolen bases, and walks as well as runner-up in base hits and RBI’s. John’s fielding performance was tops among the starters on the team putting up a fielding percentage of .998, making only one error in 297 chances. He maintained that level notching a .990 fielding percentage in his senior season. Simourian was elected First Marshall of his graduating class. He also won the William J. Bingham Award given to the member of the graduating class who, because of his integrity, courage, leadership and ability on the athletic field, has best served the high purposes of Harvard as exemplified by former athletic director William J. Bingham. John was the first Harvard baseball player to earn Harvard’s highest athletic honor.