Born September 10, 1927 in Coeur d’Alene Jim attended Coeur d’Alene High School and graduated in 1945. He excelled in athletics, playing football and Baseball at CHS and went on to the University of Idaho on a football scholarship where he was a four year letterman. In 1950 he served two years in the Army before returning home to start his coaching career.
Jim started his career in Huntington, Oregon where he taught social studies and coached six-man football. He moved to Harrington, Washington to coach eight-man football along with Basketball. After Harrington he moved on to Carnation, Washington where he taught and coached at Tolt High School until 1964. It was then that Jim moved to Cheney where he would spend the rest of his professional career. In 1966 his Blackhawk football team was undefeated. In 1973 he retired from coaching to become the Athletic Director, serving in that position until 1987 and retiring from education in 1988.
Throughout his 24 years at Cheney High School, Jim was known for a great sense of humor and his positive effect on many young people. Among those was the late Tom Oswald, the quarterback of the undefeated 1966 football team.
Jim passed away on November 4, 2007 and is survived by his wife of 54 years, Betty. Jim and Betty have four children, son Jimmy and daughters Jana, Lori and Krisann