Hall of Fame
Another two-sport star in track and football, Jim earned three varsity letters in each sport. “Big Jim” started every game at defensive middle guard as a sophomore, junior and senior at Latin, as well as playing offensive tackle his senior year. His huge presence made moving him left, right or backward next to impossible, and his remarkable quickness made him a formidable pass rusher and lead blocker. The Lions rolled up an impressive 18-1 record Jim’s sophomore and junior seasons, including a Charity Game win to give the Lions the city title in 1954. That year, eight of the team’s 10 wins were shutouts. With the entire offensive team graduating the previous year and the head coach resigning just one week before the opening game with rival St. Ignatius his senior year, the 1955 Lions stumbled to a 3-5-1 record. “Tiny” also competed all four years as a shot putter for Latin’s track teams.
Jim entered the Society of Mary after graduation. He earned his undergraduate degree in education from the University of Dayton, and a master’s degree in education from Xavier University. During his 10 years as a Marianist, he taught one year at Latin (1965-66) and seven years at Dayton Chaminade, where he coached two sectional and one district baseball champion teams. He was a teacher, coach and athletic director for 25 years in the Dayton public schools, retiring in 1998.
He joins classmate Mike Jezior as a member of the Hall of Fame.
