James L. Coll, Jr.

Special Honorary Achievement

Jim Coll was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. He chose to delay college and a chance to play for the Chicago White Sox by first serving his country in the Air Force for 27 months in the South Pacific. After WW II, his high school coach, a K.S.U. alum, urged him to attend Kent State where he earned a degree in Education in 1950. His first teaching assignment was in Twinsburg where he coached all sports leading them to numerous championships in football, basketball and baseball. In 1952, Twinsburg was the Class “B” State Champions in Football. Ravenna Township beckoned him in 1953 as Principal and football coach. Jim became Local Superintendent in 1957. He was named Principal of Brown Junior High in 1960; High School Principal in 1962; Assistant Superintendent in 1967 and was Superintendent from 1971-1982. His community involvements included: Salvation Army Chairman for 17 years; President of Ravenna Rotary; Chairman of United Way; President of the Hot Stove Baseball League and was a Soap Box Derby Official for 12 years. He received many Community awards including: the Jaycees Outstanding Citizen Award; Ohio Jaycees Physical Fitness Leadership Award; Ravenna Chamber of Commerce Raven Award and was inducted into the Portage County Sports Hall of Fame. Kent State University awarded him the McCafferty Award for Outstanding Leadership; the K.S.U. Special Achievement Award given by the Alumni Asssociation and the Phi Epsilon Kappa Distinguished Award. He received the Jefferson Award for Community Service awarded by WJW, Channel 8 in Cleveland and was honored to receive the First United Methodist Church Lay Leader and Lay Minister awards.

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