J. Freeland Chryst was a student-athlete at McCaskey High School before attending Millersville University where he served as captain of the football team.
Chryst continued to stay involved in athletics after graduating from Millersville, becoming an assistant football coach at Curwensville High School in western Pennsylvania.
Upon returning to Lancaster County, he served as a football official from 1960-85 and was President of the Lancaster Chapter of football officials. He was also a co-founder of the Old Timers Athletic Association, which became the Lancaster County Sports Hall of Fame.
At McCaskey, he established the J. Freeland Chryst Football Scholarship and, with his daughter Dana, funded the construction of Chryst Pavilion. At Millersville, he established a scholarship to support student athletes, contributed to the renovation and re-dedication of what are now Chryst Hall and Chryst Field.