IN THE LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION expressing the sympathy of the Legislature to Michele "Poochie" Ferguson and other family members and friends of James Henry Wilkinson, upon the occasion of his death.
Intro
RESOLUTION # 13193, May 1, 2000
INTRODUCED BY Ronald E. Finley, County Legislator
Body
WHEREAS, it was with great sorrow that family and friends learned of the death of James Henry Wilkinson; and,
WHEREAS, Coach Wilkinson was born March 27, 1917, in Anniston, AL, to Orrist Scott and Miles Wilkinson; and,
WHEREAS, he received his early education in the public school system in St. Louis, MO, at Vashon High School; and,
WHEREAS, Coach Wilkinson received his Bachelor of Science degree at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO, his Masters of Science in Education at the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles, and served as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army in 1943; and,
WHEREAS, Coach Wilkinson worked as basketball coach at Lincoln University in 1942, Paseo YWCA in Kansas City as director of the sports program from 1943-44, history and physical education teacher at R.T. Coles Vocational School from 1945-56, physical education teacher at Lincoln Junior High from 1956-58, assistant principal at Central High School from 1959 to 1968 where he served as the first African American head coach, Assistant Executive Director of the NCAA in 1968, and head director of the National Summer Youth Sports Program from 1961 until his retirement in 1981; and,
WHEREAS, Coach Wilkinson was a member of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church and occasionally attended Paseo Baptist Church; and,
WHEREAS, Coach Wilkinson is survived by his daughter Michele (previously a marriage license clerk in the Jackson County Records Department and currently the assistant to the compliance review officer for the County Legislature) and son James Scott "Scotty," his grandchildren Brittny Helena Cole Fergu...
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