Introducing the 2022 Athletic-Hall of Fame Inductees

John Baxter ‘84 entered the SPHS as a member of the Motivation Program in 1980. At that time, as a 9th Grade student, John joined the Junior Varsity Football team. In his junior year of high school, John split his time between the Varsity and JV football teams and played both the offensive and defensive lines. He was selected as the Most Valuable Player on the JV Football team during his junior year season. Senior year, John was a starting lineman, and named Tri-Captain along with Scott Farnesi and Joe Micali for the Rams. John participated in the annual Thanksgiving Day game against St. John Neumann and had the special privilege of playing in the 50th Anniversary game at Philadelphia’s Veterans Memorial Stadium. John went on, after graduating from SPHS to study finance at the Community College of Philadelphia and then on to a lifelong career with the Internal Revenue Service beginning in 1986. John continues to be a valued employee at the IRS and currently works as a software tester.
In addition to John’s athletic career and vocation, he is passionate about travel. John has traveled extensively to the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, Ghana and South Africa. Pending the restrictions of the pandemic, John plans to continue his travel itinerary to Portugal and British Columbia.
Further interests for John include jazz music and “the oldies”.
It is no surprise that John continues his athletic interests as a BIG Sports Fan, most notably our Philadelphia home teams!

Robert Romano graduated Southern in 1975 and was a varsity athlete all three years he attended school.
As a sophomore, Robert played football on the Junior Varsity and Varsity teams.
He was a running back, safety and returned punts and kickoffs on special teams.
Robert also played varsity baseball and was the starting left fielder and batted fifth in the order that year. Robert’s 1972/1973 the varsity baseball team advanced to the public league championship game.
Robert’s junior and senior year’s he would continue to play football as a corner back, running back and would play selectively at quarterback where he lead the public league in passing touchdowns.
Robert had high level of recognition in baseball as the varsity’s starting outfielder and had strong performance at the plate which help the baseball team win two city championships his junior and senior years at Southern.
Additionally, Robert was the Captain of the varsity baseball team, played centerfield and batted cleanup having .485 batting average in his senior year.
Robert graduated West Chester University with a Bachelors in Criminal Justice and is now retired after a 34 year career working for the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.

Tim Witherspoon ’76 was a member of the Varsity Football and Baseball teams at Southern. His contribution as a right fielder and at the plate helped propel Southern Baseball team to the playoffs in 1975.
Tim’s play along with Scott Nash and Jackie Manfredi’s made the baseball season one for all to remember.
After Graduation in 1976 Tim became an amateur boxer and had several bouts with such notable greats as Marvis Frazier.
Tim later entered the professional ranks and became known as Terrible Tim Witherspoon in the boxing profession.
Tim’s professional boxing career spanned 9 years and is recognized as a two time heavyweight boxing champion winning the heavyweight WBC title in 1983 and the WBA title in 1985.
Tim fought great such as Larry Homes, Greg Page, Floyd Jumbo Cummings.
Tim’s boxing Career statistics are very impressive having 69 fights, winning 55 of them. Tim also had 38 Knock out wins and only 1 draw.
Tim stays active in the gym developing young boxes and coaching them on the skills necessary to be successful.
Tim also travels the world and is a notable boxing legend who gets publicly recognized on media outlets at professional boxing events.