John “Mags” Magsamen ’74 is being inducted into the 2025 Pius X Hall of Fame.
John was a member of the 1973 State Basketball Semifinal team and 1974 State Basketball Championship team, leading them in scoring both years. John earned 2nd team All City both years as well.
As a member of the 1973 State Football Championship Team, John was selected to the All City, All State, Super All State team and he played in the 1974 Shrine Bowl. John went on to play for the University of Nebraska Huskers his first two years of college.
John was not from Lincoln originally, but moved from Imperial, Nebraska about three months into his sophomore year. John recalls it was all quite a shock, both the size of Lincoln and the size of Pius X. John’s mom moved the family to Lincoln after their father Ray Magsamen passed away, just 5 months before he started at Pius. “I made some great friends that really helped me feel like I belonged. The coaching staff (Aldrich, Kelly, O’Boyle, and Band Director Phil Murphy) really helped me navigate my way through Pius.”
John went on to UNL to earn a teaching degree, like his father, and taught and coached at St. Teresa Catholic School. John also helped Tim Anderson coach at Pius including the years his little brother Jeff played.
John eventually went to work for USPS until his retirement in 2019. John and Mary Barry have been married for 44 years and live in Lincoln, as do their three children Meg, Drew, and Emma and three grandchildren.
