In Memoriam

John Wayne Highfill, born on May 26, 1943, in San Pedro, CA, a beloved husband, devoted father, cherished grandfather, and treasured friend, passed away peacefully at his home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, on June 15, 2025, at the age of 82.
 
John first started collecting in 1949. He specialized in US and Canadian silver dollars, U.S. commemoratives and gold. He was the President, Founder & Director of Oklahoma Coin Exchange, Inc., National Silver Dollar Conventions Inc., Oklahoma Federated Security and Detective Inc., Oklahoma Federated Gold and Numismatics Inc., and Oklahoma Federated Gold and Silver Exchange Inc., President of Highfill Press, LLC. He was Life Member #1 of Oklahoma Coin Dealers Association. He was an original Founding and Life Member #1 of the National Silver Dollar Roundtable (NDSR), November 12, 1982, which elected him to the board of governors for twelve terms and five times to its’ presidency. He was the NSDR  Man of the Year for 1985, 1992, and 2004. He was honored with the NSDR Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994 and in recognition of one of the founders of the NSDR the Lifetime Achievement award was renamed in 2017 the ‘John W. Highfill Lifetime Achievement Award’. John was a contributor to PCGS’  World’s Finest Morgan Silver Dollar Tour.
 
He held life memberships in the American Numismatic Association (ANA), Arkansas Numismatic Society, California States Numismatic Association, Central States Numismatic Society, Florida United Numismatists, Garden State Numismatic association, Greater Houston Coin Club, Indian State Numismatic Association, Michigan State Numismatic Society, Numismatic Association of Southern California, Oklahoma Numismatic Association, and Tennessee State Numismatic Society. He also belonged to Alabama Numismatic Society, Canadian Numismatic Society, Clearwater Coin Club, and Kansas Numismatic Association, Love Token Society, Missouri Numismatic Society, Texas Numismatic Association, and Society for U.S. Commemorative Coins, PNG, RCDA, PCGS, ANE, CCE and ANA’s 1891 club.
 
He served as a consultant for Compugrade, the American Numismatic Exchange (AME), and the Certified Coin Exchange (CCE). He was also a grading consultant for the American Numismatic Association (ANA). He was a member of many prominent organizations and societies including the Professional Numismatic Guild (PNG), Numismatic Literary (NLG). He was also on the initial board of governors of the Certified Coin Exchange.
 
John was a contributing consultant for Whitman Desk Top Book on “Morgan Dollars” by Michael “Miles” Standish, and also contributing consultant to Q. David Bowers twin volume set entitled: Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States in 1993. He authored/published the iconic  Comprehensive U.S. Silver Dollar Encyclopedia in 1992, and from 2017-2021 it was updated, reprinted, and released into a two volume, 2000-page work. The encyclopedia was presented to the Smithsonian Institute in 1991 and used as the single US Silver Dollar authoritative reference to this day.

John is survived by his loving, devoted wife, Marlene, who was his steadfast companion and best friend through every adventure. He was a father to Dr. Briar-Chelsea, Jeffery, Nicole, John Jr., Rebecca, Michael and Gary, a grandfather, and great grandfather. John’s stories and laughter filled family gatherings with joy, where his high energy, jokes, and humor was the life of the party. 

John’s life was filled with many passions including signing with a professional baseball team right out of high school. Then he served in the United States Air Force, and later as the VP of ABC Records in the music industry. He was an avid world traveler who journeyed to virtually every continent, visiting over 100 countries throughout his lifetime.
 
His colleagues remember him not just for his expertise, but for his generosity, jokes, mentorship, and genuine care for others. He spent decades educating and inspiring fellow numismatists. 
 
The NSDR will deeply miss John. He will be lovingly remembered, and forever in our hearts. 

• Alex Barna
• Brian Beardsley
• Mike Bobb
• Charlie Boyd
• Roger P. Bryan
• Paul Burke
• Nick A. Buzolich, Jr.
• Joe Buzonowski
• Charles Cataldo
• Robert Chapman
• Jay Cline
• Jack Copeland
• Michael Curran
• Bill Dafcik
• Matt DeRoma
• Bryan Fazio
• Rollie A. Finner
• Gary Fillers
• Wayne Flannigan
• Lloyd Gabbert
• Alan Goldsmith
• Michael Graham
• David Griffiths
• H. Price Headley

• Leon Hendrickson
• Gene L. Henry
  
• John W. Highfill
• Al Johnbrier
• Jules J. Karp
• Don King
• Paul E. Lambert
• Jack R. Lee
• Dave Lisot
• John Love
• Bruce Merrill
• Louie Moreno, Jr.
• Jerry Morgan
• Bill Mosley
• Martin Paul
• Donald Harrison Phillips
• Ed Rockowitz
• Robert Rose
• Clark A. Samuelson
• Sheldon Schultz
• Mark E. Scott
• Miles Standish
• Dean Tavenner
• Selby Ungar
• Dennis E. Wegley
• Harlan White
• George Zawalonka