Dr. John Wesley Slider is the editor of this website. He is a US Lacrosse certified Umpire; a member of the Kentucky Lacrosse Umpires Board; a US Lacrosse certified Trainer and Observer/Rater for Women’s Lacrosse; and the Women's Game Kentucky State Coordinator for Officials Development with US Lacrosse.
John has earned a B.A. in history, and a masters and doctorate in theology. He has been coaching, teaching, and mentoring at various levels and in different venues for over four decades. He has taught academic subjects in middle school and high school classrooms. He taught theology as a member of the adjunct faculty of Lindsey Wilson College.
John played football and ran track in high school. He also played club soccer. At Hanover College he was a receiver on the football team, and a sprinter on the track team. He set three school records on the track.
John spent twenty-four years in the US Marine Corps, retiring in 1996 as a Lt. Colonel. His specialties were armor, infantry, and legal services. He has completed graduate level courses at Marine Corps, Navy, Army, and Joint Service schools. One of Lt. Colonel Slider’s roles in the Marine Corps Reserve was as a course and curriculum developer and instructor in the Marine Corps University system. He has commanded platoons and companies, and been a staff officer at the battalion and division levels.
In civilian life, John has served as a Methodist pastor for four decades. He has taught classes and led groups for adults and youth. He has served as senior pastor for small churches and large multi-staff, multi-lingual, and multi-cultural appointments. He has written and published Sunday School curriculum for all ages.
John has coached many sports at various levels including Cross Country, Swimming, Track, Basketball, and Softball. He has coached individuals and teams to state tournaments and national competitions. He has three books on coaching that are currently available.
In 2019 John will begin his ninth year as a girls’ Lacrosse Umpire. By the end of 2018 he will have officiated over 700 girls’ Lacrosse games. John spent nineteen years as a high school, club, and college Volleyball Referee - working 750 matches. He is also in his fourth year as a high school Field Hockey Umpire; and by the end of 2018 will have officiated more than 230 games. With more than 1,750 matches or games as a sports official and a life-time of teaching, coaching, and mentoring, John brings a wealth of experience to this effort to prepare new Lacrosse Umpires for a long career.
Dr. Slider is a member of the Clergy Advisory Council for the WHAS Crusade for Children. He is a regular panelist on "The Moral Side of the News" - a program broadcast by WHAS-TV and WHAS radio.
John is married to Lillian. Their daughter is Heather. Their son and daughter-in-law are William and Tina.