John Sloan oral history interview, 2025 April 07

Oral history interview with John Sloan conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on April 7, 2025 for the Game On! An Oral History of Sports project. In this interview Sloan talks about his upbringing in Illinois, mentioning how he grew up playing sports, but nothing competitvely. He went to college and graduated with a dual B.S. and J.D., then jumped into the work force in financial sales. He was later given the chance to run for state's attorney in Mercer County, Illinois; though he was resistant at first, he decided to give it a try and won the election. He was the state's attorney for eight years before moving around the midwest for various financial jobs. Eventually, Sloan was able to retire in Las Vegas, Nevada, which began his love of pickleball. He and his wife traveled for a non-sporting event in St. George, Utah and while trying to find a tennis court to play in, discovered pickleball. Eventually, he succeeded in getting the first public dedicated pickleball courts in Nevada placed at Police Memorial Park. Sloan also helped start and run the Las Vegas Pickleball Club, becoming an ambassador to the USAPA for seven years. He was able to get courts installed at Sunset Park, Police Memorial Park, and the Veterans Memorial Community Center and has recruited the next generation of pickleball players in Las Vegas. To this day, he still plays pickleball with family and friends, and has even introduced his grandchildren to the sport. Digital and transcript available.