Born in Sidney, Ohio. Received A.B. from Miami (OH) University in 1931 and M.J. from Northwestern University in 1932. Married Margaret Barr September 26, 1936. They have two children including John O. Amos II.

Employed with family owned business after 1921. Editor for the Sidney Daily News 1936 to 1955; publisher 1962 to 1976; chairman of the board until retirement in 1988. Amos has also been very involved with community activities.

It was under his leadership that the company expanded into various hobby publications. They had a new press and were looking to expand. Amos and Cecil Watkins developed the concept into a trial issue of Coin World for March 1960.

He received an ANA Presidential Award in 1988. He died in Sidney, Ohio.

bio by correspondence, 1991 obit: CW 6/9/1997, NN 6/3/97