John Dougherty Bream was his official name, but through 35 years and for over 3 + generations of students who attended school in the Littlestown School District he was known affectionately as “ Mr. Jack.”
In the fall of 1957, Mr. Jack began his tenure in Littlestown where he served as a Health and Physical Education teacher, as well as teaching science. He coached football, basketball and baseball. He was promoted to Athletics Director. After finishing his Masters of Administration Degree at then Western Maryland College (now McDaniel) he was promoted to Assistant Principal. In the fall of 1980, he was appointed Principal of Maple Avenue Middle School where he happily served until his retirement in June of 1992.
For many years during his time at Littlestown, Mr. Jack also was in the Army Reserves, coached and was a member of the Board of Directors for Gettysburg Little League, Pop Warner Football Program and was the President of the Board for the Gettysburg Park and Recreation.
Mr. Jack was the First Executive Director of the Orange & Blue Club and was the founder of the annual Gettysburg College Blue Golf Classic. He is a Gettysburg College Athletic Department Hall of Fame member. He is also a member of the Adams County and South Eastern arm of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, a longtime member of the Gettysburg Lions Club, Good Samaritan Club and The Shrine. He was also a founding member of the Thunderbolt Foundation which supports LASD.
Throughout his life Mr. Jack received many accolades, awards and recognitions for his tireless work in education, his community and athletics, including being the middle level educator of the year in 1992 and principal of MAMS when it was named outstanding Middle School of the year in 1991. But the time he was most proud of was the years he spent as a Thunderbolt! Mr Jack passed away on February 23, 2022.