As he approaches his retirement next month, John Exline ’64 was joined by over 40 members of his family for a community-wide celebration of his four years as a student and remarkable 58 years as a beloved teacher, administrator and coach at Columbus Academy in the school’s newly named Exline Fieldhouse on May 9, 2026.
In her introduction of Academy’s longest-serving faculty member and coach, Head of School Melissa Soderberg stated: “There are no great things about being the head of school at Columbus Academy when John Exline chooses to retire except for one, which is that we get to dedicate this incredible space after him, a multipurpose space which really fits very well.”
The fieldhouse is an impressive 24,000-square-foot facility that opened in January 2020 and is used almost nonstop for everything from PE classes and team practices to fitness training and youth sports. In addition to bearing Exline’s name on the outside, the fieldhouse now features a graphic of his 62-year career at Academy inside its entrance.
When it was Exline’s turn at the microphone, he shared his gratitude for many people in his life including his late parents, former headmaster Bill Putnam who hired him, and mentors such Rainey Taylor, Rufus Curry, John Toffey, Phil Hess, Jim Stahl and Kevin Morrin. He also thanked John Wuorinen ’80 – who was his first student to later become a teaching colleague (for 42 years) – and the Academy community.
“Most of all, I’d like to thank the students,” Exline said. “The reason that you can come to school every day and be excited about teaching are the types of students that we have at the Columbus Academy.”
In addition to Soderberg, former headmasters John Mackenzie (1997-2013) and Bo Dixon (1977-1987) also were on hand to deliver tributes to Exline.
“Maybe the story about John Exline and Columbus Academy isn’t one about work and a job, it’s about a calling,” stated Mackenzie. “It is said that we hear the voices of our great teachers all the rest of our lives, and that may be true, but beyond their voices what we remember are the way they handled themselves, their behaviors, their expectations, their caring and the roles they model for us. After 58 years on the faculty – 21 as the senior faculty members… that’s amazing, 21 years as the senior faculty member – we can only begin to imagine for how long and how widely John Exline’s voice will echo in the future for almost six decades of Columbus Academy graduates.”
Dixon and his wife Ann consider their time at Academy as the best 10 years of their lives. “As soon as we parked the car here and got out, there was the same warmth and sense of community that we remember and treasure from 50 years ago,” Dixon shared. “Schools work really hard to develop that and never really do. You have it. Don’t take it for granted as one of the great sources of your strength, and it will be that way forever.”
The night’s festivities, emceed by upper school faculty members Amanda Bundy and John Compton, included a surprise “Little Dribblers” performance by some of Exline’s grandchildren and varsity boys basketball players.
Almost 500 guests attended the celebration, and each took home a special Exline Fieldhouse t-shirt designed and produced by HOMAGE, the vintage clothing company founded by Academy alum Ryan Vesler ’01.
Thanks to a generous six-figure gift from an anonymous donor, Columbus Academy has established the John B. Exline ’64 Scholarship Fund, a permanently endowed fund, to support financial assistance for Academy students.
“John epitomizes all that is good about the Academy – never negative, always encouraging – as a teacher and coach,” stated the donor. “In your formative years, a great teacher and coach like John can have an impact that lasts a lifetime. And to think that John has had this impact for so many years, on so many students, is extraordinary. It’s only appropriate that he should be remembered by future generations of students; and given his lifelong support of financial aid, this seemed to be a fine way of honoring his legacy.”
If you would like to contribute to the John B. Exline ’64 Scholarship Fund to help support financial assistance at Academy in John’s honor, please contact the development office at 614-475-2311 or developmentoffice@columbusacademy.org.