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Submitted: 2/25/19 • Approved: 2/25/19 • Last Updated: 2/28/19 • R1257835-G1257833-S3
Jim
1919 - 2011
Emma Jean
1923 - 2002
James "Jim" Minor, long time Tonkawa resident, died on Sunday, December 4, 2011. He was 92.
Jim was a loving son, brother, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Tonkawa. He was preceded in death by his wife, Emma Jean Minor, on February 13, 2002, his son, James Gray Minor on November 24, 1999, his parents, two brothers and one sister.
A Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 7, 2011, in the First Baptist Church of Tonkawa with the Doctor Richard Thomasson officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Tonkawa Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Atkins, Arkansas. Paul bearers are: Mike and Kurt Kirtley, David Ellis, Larry Case, Terry Ingmire & Eric Williamson. Honorary Paul bearers are Jim's First Baptist Church Sunday School Class.
James Davis Minor was born to John Luther and Stella Webb Minor on November 1, 1919, in Economy, Arkansas. He attended first grade in Economy before the family moved to Russellville, Arkansas, where he attended school through high school. While attending Russellville High School, he played football 1934-1937. Even though an injury kept him from playing the last three games in 1937, he still made All-State. He entered Arkansas Tech University in 1938 with a football scholarship. While there, he made All Conference and Captain of the 1941 team playing in the Rock Bowl New Year's Day 1942. He is also in the Tech Hall of Fame.
WWII forced Minor out of college in 1942, and he spent two years in the Army in Europe as a cryptographer. He was discharged November 1945 as Sergeant. In 1946, he picked up his football career by enrolling at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where he graduated in 1948. He was team captain his senior year when the Razorbacks played in the Cotton Bowl on January 1, 1947 and the Dixie Bowl at Birmingham, Alabama on New Year's Day 1948. His senior performance earned him selection by the International News Service 2nd All Conference, All American Honorable Mention. He was the #1 draft choice of Detroit Lions and Brooklyn Dodgers, but he chose the coaching profession instead after his graduation for the University.
Minor's coaching career included five years as head football and basketball coach at Danville, Arkansas. From Danville, he moved to Haskell, Oklahoma where he was head basketball coach and line coach of the football team. Minor and his family moved to Pawhuska in 1957. Pawhuska Huskies produced four football All-Staters under Minor's direction, and his son, Jim Minor Jr., was one of them. In 1960, the Huskies were Verdigris Valley and regional champions in football. Minor was known across the state for turning out aggressive and hard hitting lines.
In 1966, the Minors moved from Pawhuska to coach the Tonkawa Buccaneers where he retired in 1982 after a perfect 10-0 season. His 34-year coaching career got him inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association's Hall of Fame in 1984. He coached in the 1963 All State Game and in the Oil Bowl in 1976. He was a member of the ODK Leadership Fraternity.
Jim Minor has received many honors during the course of his life. He was extremely bright and known to have a photogenic memory. He was known for his inner strength and the ability to overcome most obstacles. When Jim was faced with a problem or a health issue, he focused on what it was going to take to get better. Giving up was NEVER an option. He was an inspiration to everyone he met. As seen by his accomplishments, he had many gifts and talents. However, the most important gift he had was as a loving family man. He was married to Emma Jean Gray for 62 years before she passed away in 2002.
Jim is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Mary and Jim Ladd of Tonkawa, and his daughter and son-in-law Martha and Chris Cocklin of Wichita, Kansas; four grandchildren, Jeff Ladd of Tonkawa, Stacy Bahn of Springfield, Missouri, Bethany and Jamie Cocklin of Wichita, Kansas; four great grandchildren, Fallan and Taylor Ladd of Wichita, Kansas, and Haley and Hannah Bahn of Springfield, Missouri, one brother and one sister.
Memorials may be given to Tonkawa Quarterback Club in care of the Tonkawa Funeral Home, 400 E. Grand Ave., Tonkawa, Oklahoma, 74653.
Contributed on 2/25/19 by hawkinsdonna48
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Record #: 1257835