JIM COOLEY, A LIFE OF SERVICE

KEEPING THE MEMORIES ALIVE

I first met Jim Cooley while photographing the 2015 Polk Senior Games in Lakeland. 

Jim earned a Silver Medal in the 85 to 89 Class, and as such I took the opportunity to speak with him. I discovered that he had an interest in the history of his Club, Woodalls, right here in Lakeland. During the discussion, Jim modestly informed me that during the Annual Banquet of the Woodalls Shuffleboard Club, it was announced that the Club Courts had been renamed the “JIM COOLEY COURTS”!  (See the pic) Jim had served as President of the Woodalls Club for 13 years!! The Membership of the Woodalls Club are to be congratulated for honouring Jim in this fashion.

Those of you who follow the BLOG will remember that it was at these courts where the very first Central District Masters took place in 1988.  Here is the key para of that posting:  Each year many of us look forward to the CD “Top 8 Masters”! The concept of the District Masters was conceived by Bill Smith, Tournament Director for the Central District.  Although conceived in 1987, it was  first played in Woodall’s Mobile Home Park in 1988; the following year 1989 in Georgetowne Mobile Home Park, both in Lakeland, FL. (Click to see posting: https://theshuffler.net/2015/03/16/we-give-you-the-history-of-the-fsa-central-district-masters-we-salute-austin-in-this-article/

Stan McCormack.  2015 03 16. Stanistheman_200@yahoo.com