Joined the Cleveland Parks and Recreation Department in 1939 and was appointed commissioner of recreation in 1943. During his career, he built a park and recreation system that was used as a model for other cities. Nagy was president of the ASA from 1970-71 and was ASA commissioner for more than two decades. Was instrumental in at least 10 national tournaments being held in Cleveland. He was a 1937 graduate of Ohio State University and Franklin Law College. He also played professional baseball in the Detroit Tigers’ farm system. He died July 24, 1983. He was 70 years old. He had suffered heart attacks in 1969, 1971, 1974 and had an ulcer in 1973. In 1974, a street was named in his honor, John Nagy Blvd in Cleveland. Just prior to his death he was awarded the Pride of Cleveland-Jesse Owens Award. In 1961 he was the Greater Cleveland Catholic Man of the Year. He also is a member of the Boxing Hall of Fame. In 1978, he was Man of the Year by the National Parks and Recreation Association and in 1981 was the Public Recreation Man of the Year by the AAU.
