Jim was born Dec. 21, 1922 in Berwyn, Ill., and went to St. Leonard’s. He was all – conference football and baseball player at Morton and All-State in Football. Jim got a football scholarship to attend the University of Wisconsin. His coach at Wisconsin was Harry Stuhldreher, who was the QB for the four horsemen of Notre Dame legend. Wisconsin should have been national champs in 1942 when Jim was a soph, with his roommate “Crazy Legs” Hirsch. Ohio State edged them out even the Wis. Beat them 24-7. Wisconsin lost to Iowa on a sloppy, rainy day 6-0. Jim also played baseball at Wisconsin in center field with a .385 batting average. At the end of 1942, Jim went into the Army and made it back to Wisconsin for the 1946 and 1947 season.
Jim returned to Morton to teach and coach. He was a very successful football coach. His 1964 and 1969 teams were undefeated.