Each year, University of Detroit Mercy honors seven alumni — one from each of the colleges and schools at the University — with a Spirit of Detroit Mercy award.
These honorees are alumni who have marked themselves with distinction in their career and in their personal life. They will be honored at a special ceremony on April 27 on the McNichols Campus. Tickets for the event can be purchased here.
Today, we introduce John M. Everly ’65, ’67, the honoree from the College of Business Administration. Come back to read about other outstanding alumni.
Upon graduating from University of Detroit, Everly joined the sales department of Boyer Campbell and returned to his alma mater to earn his MBA. In 1972, he established Everly Associates to market powertrain components to the automotive market. In 1984, he became part of a turnaround of Chicago-based Jernberg Forgings, increasing sales from $28 million to $120 million during his eight years as vice president of Sales and Marketing. He returned full-time to Everly Associates in 1992; this year the company marks its 46th year in operation.
Everly was awarded the John Conti Distinguished Letterman Award from University of Detroit Mercy, is a College of Business Administration Hall of Honor member and a member of the Shrine High School Hall of Fame.
“I attended University of Detroit beginning in fall of 1961 on a football scholarship. As part of the recruiting process, my parents and I went to dinner with the coach and team chaplain, Fr. Huetter, who said to me “John, you belong here. If you come to the University of Detroit you will earn an excellent degree and I will mentor you, so when you leave here you will leave a good man.” Fr. Huetter not only mentored me but also became a lifelong friend to me, and later my family. Another gift from my University of Detroit experience was the chance to meet my partner — and the love of my life — Mary Sue, at a Titans basketball game in 1963.”
