John Gooch is a native Missourian and a 1960 graduate of Central College with a degree in history. He has also received the Master of Divinity degree from Garrett/Evangelical Seminary, and the Ph.D. in church history from St. Louis University. His career includes being pastor of United Methodist churches in Missouri, a university and seminary professor, curriculum editor at the United Methodist Publishing House, and a free-lance writer and editor. He is the author of 14 other books, and dozens of articles and curriculum units. He and his wife, Beth, met at Central, and have been married as of this writing for some 58 years. They are the parents of Nina (Central Methodist, '84) and Carl, the parents-in-law of Erica and Kelly, and the grand-parents of Kaitlin and Jada. He and Beth enjoy travel, bridge, the St. Louis Cardinals, reading, and being with friends. They live in retirement in Lees Summit, MO.
