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Biography
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John E., "Jack", Cox was
born in Toronto, Canada in 1909 but moved to America in 1916. His father Sam took a job as
a printer in New York City. A few years later his mother passed away and by the age of 15,
Jack Cox had quit school and took a job in his early teenage years as a
lithographer' s
assistant in Manhattan. He lived for a number of years in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. He
began his interest in Boy Scouting then as a tenderfoot with his Patrol Leader leading the
way, the late Ozzie Nelson. In 1928 Jack was diagnosed with Tuberculosis. At just 19 years of age, he drove in a old car with a friend to the warmer, dry climate of the southwest. On the way he worked a short stint on a bridge crossing the Mississippi at Vicksburg but soon moved on to work in a veterans hospital in Fort Baynard, New Mexico. After four years in the southwest, he was transferred to the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital continuing his work as an orderly. At the age of 25, Jack Cox decided to go back to high school and get his diploma. A few years later, he applied to enter Stanford University as a Freshman. At the age of 32, he received an A.B. in basic medical science and gained admission to Stanford Medical School. He also married Flora Martens, a Stanford student, who he met on a blind date. In October 1944, this 35 year old high school drop out received his M.D. from Stanford and began a general practice in medicine a few years later in Saratoga, California. He later served as President of the Santa Clara County Academy of General Practice. Jack has always had a great interest in politics and community affairs. He worked actively for Dwight Eisenhower* s first campaign for President in 1952. He served on the Saratoga School District's Board of Education and played a role in the founding of the City of Saratoga as cofounder of the Good Government Group of Saratoga. He played an active role in Senator Barry Goldwater's campaign for the Presidency in 1964. However, Jack most enduring contribution to his community has been his active involvement in the Boy Scouts of America. He has served numerous roles from Scoutmaster to service to the National Council as Council Commission for northern California. He holds the Scoutmaster's Key, the Silver Beaver and the Silver Antelope. He was an assistant Scoutmaster to the 1960 Scout Jamboree in Colorado Sprints. His son John E. Cox, Jr. later served nearly a decade as a Scoutmaster and his grandson, John E. Cox, III is an Eagle Scout. Dr. Jack Cox has spoken to numerous community, educational and religious organizations on democratic values. He has stressed the importance that individual freedom and market economics in American society. However, he contends these values must be based on basic Judeo-Christian values. He has written many articles including a piece for the Opinion Section of the San Jose Mercury News. Jack Cox and his wife Flora live in the house they built in 1949. They have three children and six grandchildren. |