John Emerson graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1959. He joined the U.S. Air Force after graduation and served for four years.

He worked as a mason around town and saw that the town was growing. John went into politics. He was on the Board of Registrars for four years and elected to the Board of Selectmen from 1984 to 1988. When he knew sewerage was needed in town, he traveled to Washington, D.C. to lobby for funding. He was called Chelmsford\\\'s “Man of Vision.”

The Greater Lowell area Democrats honored “Johnny” with its annual “Distinguished Democrat” award in 2005. He was a great public servant who raised money for many causes, including the Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities, the Sun Santa, and Camp Paul.

John was a devoted husband and father to his wife Margaret and their beloved daughter Briana Elizabeth.

His greatest imprint on his hometown was his stewardship of Chelmsford\\\'s massive sewer construction project.

He shaped the town and touched people with his Irish wit and obvious love of people. He once was quoted as saying, “I love sewerage, golf, and my wife – and not in that order.”

His final gift to Chelmsford is a scholarship in his name. The proud Chelmsford High School Alumni Association\\\'s Hall of Fame member will forever be remembered, thanks to a day of golf, hard work by family and friends, and John\\\'s way of giving back to the town he loved.