John Corkran’s father David Corkran, who had been Headmaster at the North Shore Country Day School in Winnetka, Illinois, taught history at Black Mountain beginning in the winter of 1945. John, who was almost eight when he arrived at Black Mountain, was one of three sons: David Corkran III, John and Robin.

He attended Asheville Country Day School for two years before transferring to the Black Mountain school system. After his father left the college, the family settled in Black Mountain, and John graduated from Black Mountain High School in 1954. He graduated from Wesleyan University in 1958. Leaving law school in 1962, he went to work for the U.S Forest Service, first in campground design and construction, then as a Job Corps Center staff member.

He returned to Wesleyan in 1966 as Director of Annual Giving. In 1969, he became Development Director of the Catlin Gabel School, headed by former BMC student Manvel Schauffler, in Portland, Oregon. Subsequently, he served as Development Director of the Fountain Valley School of Colorado and the Bush School in Seattle.

In 1984 he received the Robert Bell Crow award for service to Independent Schools. From 1990 to 1999, he was Foundation Director for a Lutheran nursing and housing corporation. In 2001, he retired as Development Director of Trinity Lutheran College. In 2007 he and his wife Toni retired to Black Mountain.

Relationships

Father: BMC Faculty, David Corkran

Black Mountain College Project

Mary Emma Harris interviewed John in 1998 and the transcript is available from Appalachian State University under The Mary Emma Harris and Black Mountain College Project, Inc. Oral History collection.

Topics: Arriving at BMC as faculty child – Black Mountain and Asheville schools – child participation in college activities:unloading coal car, haying, farmers, ball games – BMC students – hailstorm – mountain hikes – Manvel Schauffler – Fritz Hansgirg – science building fire – college cooks – service quarters – college housing – ill-fated fishing trip – mush day – mealtime and college food – post-BMC professional work – influence of BMC – his father's study of local Indians – discussion of BMC photos