Jim Frazier, who invested 44 years in public education as a teacher, athletic coach, and educational leader, joins Johnny Growe, Lee Mayhall, Tommy Sadler and Tim Sikes as the newest members of the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame, when the 37th class is inducted at 6:30 p.m., March 28, at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.

Jimmy Duke, who emceed the hall of fame festivities for 20 years, will be the recipient of the 2023 Billy Schrivner Distinguished Service Award.

Grace Media Group – NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM, 93.1 & WNWS.COM visited with Jim Frazier to discuss his career as a teacher and coach.

Question: First, a little background – where were you born, family, education, career?

Answer: I was born in Brownsville, and my parents were the late James and Maude Barden Frazier.

I graduated from Haywood County High School in 1963, and from Union University with a B.S. in Biology and Physical Education in 1967.

I received an M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Supervision from Memphis State University in 1973. I did additional study at Christian Brothers College, in Memphis, in Chemistry and Physics and also at Memphis State in Education.

My career spanned 44 years in public education as a teacher, athletic coach, and educational leader at both the elementary and secondary levels.

Question: What were your thoughts when you were first told you had been selected for induction into the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame?

Answer: As I will bring out in my acceptance speech, I was overwhelmed, speechless, and of course, humbled. It is wonderful to be honored for one’s service.

I thought, this is not about me, it’s about all the very special people who helped me get to this point in my life. I stopped and thanked God for his grace and love for me all these years and for all the folks I mentioned.

Question: You are best known for your success in coaching. Why did you decide you wanted to coach football?

Answer: When I was in early elementary school, my dad took me to Haywood High football games. I started watching not only the action on the field, but also the coaches.

By the time I reached fifth grade, I knew that coaching was what I wanted to do. Also, my high school coach, (former Haywood High coach) John Hooper had a tremendous influence on my desire to coach football.

Question: Locals will remember you when you coached at Tigrett Junior High School. You made other stops in Jackson at the middle school level. What was so appealing about coaching at the middle school level?

Answer: I think it was the teaching aspect of coaching. Kids came to you not knowing anything about the skills and techniques of the game or they came to you with unrealistic expectations and bad habits that were corrected with good teaching.

Most of the time too, they weren’t subjected to off the field distractions like was often found with older players.

Question: Was there any particular game or season that stands out?

Answer: There were so many games and seasons in my 27 years of coaching that stand out. I think the three undefeated seasons at Parkway, especially 1973 when we defeated Tigrett in overtime. And of course, the ‘82 – ‘86 seasons at North Side Junior when we won 32 straight games.

The ‘94 season at Haywood – as an assistant, we went to the first state championship game in Haywood football history and were State Runner-up to Cleveland.

I would also have to mention that I coached Boys and Girls Track for five seasons at Haywood and our teams finished in the top 10 in our Region four of the five years.

In 1992, I coached the first female state champion in any sport in the history of Haywood High in the 400 meters.

Question: Would you give us an idea of what you will speak about when you are inducted into the Hall of Fame?

Answer: I will try to recognize all those who influenced and helped me for the success I had as a teacher, coach, and administrator.

I will give credit to my parents and my family. I’ll recognize all the young men and women students and athletes who I was privileged to work with during my career.

I will close with what I wanted to do and tried to do as a teacher and coach in relation to my students and athletes.

For tickets and reservations, call Beth Sedberry (731) 616-8558.

(PHOTO: Jim Frazier)