John Sturgis

Template:Character Infobox Dr. John Whitney Sturgis is a guest professor of physics at East Texas Tech in 1989, known for his work on radiocarbon dating. Dr. Sturgis is initially a pen pal of Sheldon Cooper, before the child prodigy audits his quantum chromodynamics course. Dr. Sturgis is instantly smitten with Sheldon's Meemaw and they begin dating, much to Sheldon's approval.

John enthusiastically seeks romantic aid via the ever-prying Sheldon, who steps over bounds interfering with their courtship. Sturgis shows what he believes to be 'machismo' when vying for the love of Meemaw against another suitor, which he wins, leading to the creation of young Sheldon's first relationship contract.

He is eccentric, wears a tweed jacket with elbow patches, and rides a Schwinn Speedster since he doesn't drive. He knows how to cook Szechuan cuisine using his travel wok, due to his biking through China. Meemaw describes him as "a brilliant, bicycle-riding teddy bear" and, further, has elucidated he is "smart as hell, gentle, and funny (not always on purpose)." Meanwhile, George Cooper says he sounds like Sheldon. A role model to Sheldon, Dr. Sturgis shares many characteristics with his little counterpart: comfort with rules; attention to safety; penchant for dispensing knowledge; and confusion regarding social interactions. Also similar to Sheldon, he has a poster of Richard Feynman in his room and attempts to emulate the famed physicist's lifestyle, such as only having one flavor of ice cream for dessert over the past thirty-five years (in order to have one less decision in his life). He even shows interest in trains, too.

Trivia

• Dr. Sturgis teaches Sheldon his first college course in theoretical physics, possibly implying this is his field of specialization. More significantly, he mentions that he has a sticky note on his refrigerator to remind him to unify gravity with the other three fundamental forces (cf. Grand Unified Theory), after which Sheldon inquires when he chose to focus his research on quantum chromodynamics (presumably, as Sheldon's question is interrupted) — a gauge theory of the strong interaction in the Standard Model of Particle Physics that is of particular interest to young Sheldon since the episode "Dolomite, Apple Slices, and a Mystery Woman". Yet, Dr. John Sturgis' research in radiocarbon dating indicates his field is experimental physics, developing nuclear instruments and methods, though he may apply numerical methods to radiocarbon isotope studies as well. (Note that it is conceivable for him to be equally skilled in both theoretical and experimental physics akin to Italian nuclear physicist Enrico Fermi.)
• His second quantum chromodynamics lecture covers perturbative QCD corrections.
• Like Sheldon, Sturgis' favorite color is blue. His favorite food is grilled cheese and his favorite ice cream is vanilla. Originally from Maine, he didn't have much Mexican food or guacamole, for which Meemaw has a particular predilection. He enjoys spaghetti with hot dogs cut up in it, once Sheldon introduces him to it.
• He buys Meemaw a purple bicycle.
• Wearing a bicycle helmet and his travel wok on his back, he makes a reference to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
• A professor of Sturgis once called him "ostrobogulous", or "weirdo."
• He considers buying a chair with a cup holder from his romantic rival, Ira Rosenbloom (Richard Kind), a Jewish furniture store proprietor. He sees becoming his friend over time.
• He appears in three episodes of Young Sheldon's Season One, "Gluons, Guacamole, and the Color Purple" (E19), "Summer Sausage, a Pocket Poncho, and Tony Danza" (E21), and "Vanilla Ice Cream, Gentlemen Callers, and a Dinette Set" (E22).
• John Sturgis' actor, Wallace Shawn, previously co-starred with Annie Potts (Meemaw) in the first two Toy Story films. He also starred with Laurie Metcalf in the first three movies.
• Wallace Shawn portrayed Vizzini in The Princess Bride, known for exclaiming "inconceivable". This is Raj's favorite film.