J.T. Peterson
J.T. Peterson was born on September 18th, 1920, and grew up on Center Street in the original mining town of Bauxite. During this time his father worked for Alcoa. He attended Bauxite Schools but dropped out in the 9th grade. Our own Hall of Fame Inductee Harry McDermott encouraged J.T. to go to Monroe, Louisiana to train as a boxer. J.T. didn’t really care for the boxing school, so after a year he returned home to Bauxite where he trained and fought many matches in the Bauxite community center.
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J.T. Joined the US Army during World War II and as time allowed continued to box. The Army sent him from island to island and camp to camp compiling an impressive record. On Guadalcanal, at the Mosquito Bowl, J.T. was crowned champion in the Welterweight Division. Subsequent to this, he flew to Hawi, competed, and won the South Pacific Boxing Championship in his weight division. J.T.’s trophy is on loan to the Bauxite Museum and can be seen there.
J.T. earned his GED in order to accept the position of Alcoa Mining Superintendent from which he later retired after a 30-year career.
J.T.’s impact on the Bauxite community is not measurable. He served as a city Councilman for 26 years. In 1997 he donated the Bauxite Fire Department building which now bears his name.
As long-time residents, J.T. and his wife DeLena were strong supporters of the Bauxite School District. J.T. and DeLena had one daughter, Kathy Peterson Glover, who graduated from Bauxite and married William Glover. They have one Granddaughter, Jennifer Glover Luna who graduated from Bauxite High School and married David Luna. They also have eight great grandchildren.
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