skip navigation

Sponsors

Partners

Jim Thompson - Birnamwood / Watertown / Racine Park

03/01/1988, 12:00am CST
By Wisconsin Sports Network

Born March 22, 1925 in Chicago, IL

Graduate of Madison East High School University of Wisconsin-Madison, MS UW-Madison

Coached football at:

Birnamwood High School 1951-53;
Watertown High School 1953-57; and
Racine Park High School 1957-66.
His record was 79 wins, 38 losses, 11 ties, three championships and one undefeated season.

Jim graduated from Madison East High School in 1943, where he earned honors in football, basketball and track.

He entered the military service in 1943 and served two years in the Philippines.

At the University of Wisconsin, Jim excelled in football and baseball. He was the team captain in baseball his senior year. After college, Jim played professional baseball with Superior in the Northern League and Colorado Springs in the Western League. He later played semi-pro baseball with Merrill and Winona. He played football for the Wausau Muskies in the Central States League for three years.

As a football coach at Racine Park, Jim was named Big Eight "Coach of the Year" in 1958 and 1960. He also coached basketball, baseball and track. At Birnamwood his 1952-53 basketball team earned a trip to the state tournament. His 1956 Watertown baseball team won the State Championship.

Jim went into administration as an assistant principal at Racine J.I. Case High School in 1967 and returned to Park as directing principal in 1970 where he’s been for 18 years. As directing principal, Jim has remained active in athletics as a conference administrator.

He played a major role in conference realignment in the Southeastern Wisconsin area. He has been a positive force behind high school athletics for many years.

Tag(s): Hall of Fame