John bowled approximately 45 - 50 years in league competition in the Austin and Duluth Bowling Associations and won many Austin association tournament titles during his career.

He was the first left-hander in ABC history to bowl over 2000 in an ABC All Events competition. He finished second in 1962 with a total of 2009 in Des Moines, Iowa. He also finished second in the 1964 ABC Doubles event. John had several top ten finishes bowling with the Hormel Cure 81 Ham team in the ABC tournaments along with being a finalist in the ABC Masters and several Minnesota B. P. A. A. tournaments.

He won the Actual and Handicap All Events Titles in the 1959 Minnesota State Championship Tournament and competed and won several tournaments in the Upper Midwest Area.

He was inducted into the Austin and Duluth Bowling Halls of Fame.

His honor scores totals were 5 - 300 games and 5 - 299 games along with a high series of 786. He averaged 200 or higher for 20 plus years prior to the 1984/85 season with a high average of 220.